Pockets of Grace

When listening to a live Q&A with a favorite author of mine, I was surprised at the answer to one of her questions. “How do you meet your deadline? Do you enforce a certain number of written words each day?” Instead of a typical answer, her voice softened, her light eyes twinkled. “I could give you a list of “to do’s” but what we really need is to say, “grace to me”. ” Robin Jones Gunn, the author, went on to explain how often we need to bless ourselves and give ourselves grace. It’s only then that we find the strength to flow God’s way- and with that, great things happen (even writing of manuscripts). I have found myself repeating this soft and gentle phrase– “grace to me”– when stretched in a hard situation or when demanding more of myself than I can give. What life giving words!

Isn’t it refreshing to know that no matter where you go, no matter what you face, there is a pocket of grace that will provide for every need? Grace flows down from the throne of heaven, like a rolling, overflowing waterfall—offering just the exact grace and mercy that we need in that exact situation and moment.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’
Hebrews 4:16

More than likely–like me– you have gone through a tough season and when looked back upon, you look back in wonder… the grace was evidently there. We think, there was no way that I on my own could have gotten through that time or situation. That’s the divine pocket of grace from God Himself coming up to meet you where you are at. It surely is an “amazing grace”.

They are pockets of grace that pop up at exactly the time when we have run out of options. We have run out of places or people to turn to. Every other option we had is now extinct. Now we find our real and raw hope is in God, Him alone.

The good news is this “pocket of grace” is deep and wide (remember the song “deep and wide” from our kids church classes? 😉). His grace is deeper, wider, fuller, than we ever knew. It is even big enough to splash in! Come on in, ankle deep, thigh high, and now in over your head! This precious place of grace offers rejuvenation and fortitude from God alone.

I have experienced this grace time and time again and could list example after example— kids’ births, change of jobs, hospital and situations, even through challenges and deaths of precious family members. How have you experienced His pocket of grace in your life? If you haven’t experienced this yet I ENCOURAGE you to lean into your Heavenly Father, maker of heaven and earth, next time a situation beyond your control comes up. He will surely give you the grace you need for that moment.

The key to receiving this wonderful grace comes in learning to be like my childhood golden retriever, Daisy. Let me explain… No matter what the day held for Daisy, no matter how many squirrels she chased, how stinky her fur or breath was, or how put together she was or not… one thing we could count on: Daisy would come inside and let us love on her. We’d get to scratching her ears, petting her, and before we knew it, she’d be so cozied up to us that it was next to impossible to move. She was full out leaning on us.
(Ha ha—reminds me of the movie While You Were Sleeping and the “leaning” comment made famous by that movie 😆).

She was not easily convinced to move from her spot snuggled close to us. It would take a lot (either the hope of a dog bone or a walk) to get her to budge away from her favorite spot.

So how does this apply to us? We got to get to the place that we become the ultimate “lean-ers” on Christ. It’s the spot where we know that we are welcomed, safe, and loved. We learn how to fully lean into God, knowing He is taking care of us, He is with us, and we are not budging from that spot. We are so stuck by His side and loyal to Him, knowing we can fully trust Him. So basically, we just need to have common sense like Daisy— stick close to our Savior and don’t let up. Let Him love on you.

In cozying up with our Creator He reveals to us His Kingdom mindset:

It’s the one that says—

My God is here and He is not going to desert me (Isaiah 41:10).

My God is here and He provides all my needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).

He will bring to completion the work He started in me (Philippians 1:6).

My God never leaves me or forsakes me (Hebrews 13:5).

My God has my life and every detail of my life in His hands (Psalm 37:23-24).

I am written in the palm of His hand- He cares for me (Isaiah 49:16).

With a Kingdom mindset like this we become ultimate LEANERS into the faithfulness of our God. And when we “lean in” we realize that GRACE is there, like the pocket of sunshine in the midst of the clouds, like the trickle of water in the desert. We realize the answer we need lies not so much in the physical granting of our need but rather found in the larger than life God we serve. The one we lean into. The One who is faithful.

So friends, I encourage you this week in the Lord: When you face insurmountable odds or even just daily challenges may you lean into our Maker God, our Father God, and know He provides for us, takes care of us, and is the answer we need and crave everyday.

It reminds me of this hymn:

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
by Iris DeMent

Friend, may you experience the pockets of grace, the waterfall of grace rising up to meet you today.

In light of upcoming St. Patrick’s Day here is an Irish Blessing for you this week:

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Traditional Irish Blessing

Know you are in the palm of His hand. You are safe and secure from all alarm. Not feeling it yet? Lean in deeper… come further with your Savior God.

Until next time,