How does a smile breakthrough in our darkest moment?
Why the darkness?
Why do we struggle?
“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” – 2 Corinthians 4: 15-16
Make no mistake there will always be dark moments, even under Grace. My personal experience is that being under law dark moments expand exponentially primarily due to guilt and shame- but even under Grace bad days happen- Why?
Grace Growth!
That Grace grows in us and spreads through us to reach others is without question. This is one reason why we don’t need to “try to convert” anyone- just love them, conversion if there is to be one is His job. The important thing to remember is that His Grace is most evident at our weakest moment.
This is why Jesus sweat drops of blood, why Paul had his thorn in the flesh and why every hero of the Bible had weak moments. Its helps to grow Grace to remember that while we are no longer under the law we still have moments that want to control us rather than letting His Love control us.
There was a moment when Jesus stood up from His prayer in Gethsemane knowing what was going to happen and He could rest in that. There was a moment when Paul learned to count it all joy and he could smile through it all. This is the moment when the spiritual adult and perhaps spiritual senior citizen emerges.
Older people who are healthy know how to rest in what is here and now! They don’t cling to what was and they don’t worry about what is next- they rest in the Here and Now and know that He is God!
Find a time and a place where you will probably not be disturbed. Close your eyes, take a couple of deep breaths and with every exhale just relax without too much effort being put into it. Once you feel a bit more relaxed just breathe normally and:
Breathe in and say:
“Thank you God”
Breathe out and say:
“For growing me”
Practice this anytime you sense something competing to take the place of His Love light wanting to shine through you.
Don’t worry- Be Grace-Full!!
