Five Things So Amazing About God’s Grace

Earlier this week, I heard someone ask, “What’s so amazing about grace?” Hmm? That set my mind to pondering. After only a brief consideration, I discovered the Lord’s grace offered more than a ticket to Heaven after I die. In fact, I found five things so amazing about God’s grace, though certainly there are even more.

This post isn’t for the many young people—and not-so-young—who believe they’ve got plenty of time to think about where they’ll spend eternity. When they get too old to go out partying, then it’ll be time to talk about God’s saving grace. This post is intended to speak to the Christians needing peace in their lives right now.

Are you aware that God designed grace for our entire sojourn on Planet Earth? He meant it for the beginning, not just the end of this lifetime. Only through God’s grace, will we have that deep peace that passes understanding to guide us through the turbulence of life.

One of the definitions of grace found in the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary is, “unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration.”

Lofty words that mean God’s help to make it through the day. That’s what my five things so amazing about God’s grace highlight.

ONE: Gift

Perhaps the most difficult part of grace is that it’s really free—no gimmicks, no small print fees for which you’ll be billed later.

Nor can you hold up your winning ticket for last week’s $1.6 billion dollar lottery and tell God you’ll give Him half if only He’ll give you the grace to endure the multitudes pounding on your door night and day. Doesn’t matter how much money you have, grace can’t be purchased. Jesus already paid the price for every one of us. It’s a free gift.

Romans 5:12-21 uses the term free gift five times when speaking of God’s grace. I reckon the Apostle Paul wanted to be sure his listeners knew that grace came with God’s welcoming them into the forgiveness Christ’s shed blood provided. Paul collected no new membership fee from the converts to Christianity in exchange for the release of God’s grace.

You won’t be billed for it; you can’t pay for grace, with a vast fortune; and, you can’t work so hard for the Lord that He owes it to you. Nope. It’s a gift for all of us who surrender to the lordship of Jesus. Period.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)

The renown Scottish preacher, Rev. Alexander Whyte ministering to congregations of all sizes at the turn of the Twentieth Century, had this to say about grace:

“Grace, then, is grace,–that is to say, it is sovereign, it is free, it is sure, it is unconditional, and it is everlasting.”

Okay, how can it help us this side of Heaven?

TWO: Reconciliation

I don’t mean the reconciliation between God and the rest of us. I’m assuming that that reconciliation with a capital R has occurred. Now, I’m breaking it down to the practical experiences of daily life.

According to Dictionary.com, to reconcile means the following:

“To cause (a person) to accept or be resigned to something not desired: He was reconciled to his fate.”

At some point in all of our lives—usually more than once—we find ourselves in undesirable situations. Though we may struggle, stew, and fret for days, in the end, we must resign ourselves to the truth that we need help to resolve the situation.

Enter grace. God’s grace surrounds those who call upon Him and walk in His ways. God’s grace helps us relax and wait for the answer. God’s grace helps us get out of bed and do what’s needed.

God’s grace is a major part of helping us reconcile our circumstances with God’s plan for our lives.

Many times I’ve had people tell me, “I could never do what you’re doing…and as a blind person? You have to be the bravest woman I know!”

My honest response is, “If you knew me, you’d know what a real coward I am.”

I didn’t continue working in the remote jungle of Africa following the loss of my sight due to an incredible dose of courage. I stayed in obedience to the direction I believed God had given me. Because I obeyed Him, His mighty grace flooded me night and day–mostly.

Oh, that didn’t mean the path had only rose petals under my feet. Not at all! (Click on my book link to read a bit about Dealing with Our Fears when Letting Go Seems Impossible.) Some days I wondered how I’d make it.

Then, I spoke frankly to the Lord, “Father God, Your Word says that Your grace is sufficient for each day, but I don’t see it. I’m at least a quart low.” I’d no sooner voiced my concern, than an image formed in my mind.

I saw a large pitcher. Though I couldn’t see inside the vessel, as soon as the golden liquid spilled over the top, I knew the filling had begun from inside it.

At the same time, I sensed something happening deep inside me, too. By the time I saw the overflow, my countenance had changed. I started to laugh, filled with awe at how God’s grace flooded me as my mind’s eye watched the pitcher.

His mercy-filled grace provided exactly what I needed to get back on track. God helped me get passed merely being reconciled to the undesired situation of blindness and move into a genuine sense of joy in serving God right there in the jungle. That’s grace in action.

THREE: Acceptance

Another amazing thing about grace is that it’s for everyone. Doesn’t matter on which continent or in which country your parents welcomed you into this world. It makes no difference at all to God where your family fell on the socioeconomic chart. Doesn’t matter if you never learned to read. No problem to God if you’re the only person in your whole family who wants God’s grace working in your life.

And, you need not be a missionary or minister of any kind to receive God’s grace. God accepts everyone who calls upon Him for the forgiveness of sin and redemption through Christ Jesus.

The Bible says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 3:23-24)

Good news! You’re a part of that All. God accepts you and wants to make His grace available to you.

FOUR: Concealed

I wish grace could be spelled with an H, because I’d like to call it, Hidden. God’s grace is a hidden gift. It’s been concealed from everyone in your circle. Only you will know it’s there working to keep you calm, responding with a right attitude, etc.

You won’t be given a badge to wear, Filled with God’s grace! No bumper sticker to announce, the occupants of this vehicle are riding on a full tank of grace. The presence of God’s grace is concealed from outsiders. It’s your personal sense that All is well with my soul; God’ll take me through this undesirable situation.

On the other hand, it’s been my embarrassing experience that others will know when God pulled back His grace. Nothing concealed about the absence of God’s grace. The place was Ethiopia. The time—the mid-eighties.

I’d experienced a traumatic week with dying kids in the clinic for the famine victims. I’d endured a major conflict with one of our relief doctors just before flying to the capital city for meetings about low staff levels in the camps. Unfortunately, I took no time at all to meet with the Lord about my feelings, going immediately to the restaurant for supper with new colleagues.

As the meal progressed, my former tent-mate noticed my silence whenever talk turned to what a blessing the arrival of Dr. X had been for our camp. “Don’t you want to say anything, Dannie? It’s been a couple of weeks since I left the camp, so I don’t really know this man.”

To my utter shame, I unloaded a ton of bear on the poor unsuspecting newcomers at our table. The arrival of Dr. X had totally dismantled the quiet and calm of our distant camp. My tirade had stolen the peace out of our meal. I left my plate unfinished and returned to the hotel.

Following prayer and asking forgiveness for my behavior to all concerned, God’s grace returned. I never again let the busyness of the day keep me from my early morning time with God. Obviously, doing it after clinic and ward rounds didn’t work for me. Like I said, there’s nothing concealed about the absence of God’s grace.

FIVE: Everyday life

The best part of grace is that it’s a twenty-four/seven deal. Your challenges don’t hit you from nine to five, right? You need God’s grace every moment of every day—all seven days of each week. God’s grace is available.

Whether you’re a busy housewife frantically ferrying kids to after-school events on opposite sides of town; a corporate executive juggling a load of files dumped on your desk ten minutes before you leave to join your son’s birthday party at Pizza Hut; a teacher coping with new discipline policies in your out-of-control classroom; or, a student working hard to balance studies, social media time, and in-person events on a weekday, you need God’s grace in your everyday life.

Take heart, dear Christian, God’s free gift is available to get you through each day with a smile on your face and a kind word to each person you meet. Only through God’s amazing grace will we find that kind of peace—right now—not just after you’ve left this life for Heaven.

Take a moment to reflect on your day. Have you found it a struggle and a half so far? If so, go ahead and ask God for a re-fill!