How grace unrecognized is grace rejected. Pay attention.

How often has grace surrounded you and you haven’t noticed it because you were concentrating on the problems in your life?

Sometimes God shoots grace our way when we least expect it and we don’t even recognize it.

We should, of course.

We get so entrenched in the problem, we don’t see the small sliver of relief when it comes. It’s kind of like an experience I had with a dear friend the other day. She had suffered some significant losses over the last few years and depression had set in. She finally consented to short-term medication.

After having been on it for about three weeks, I could tell she was getting better by observing almost imperceptible changes in her behavior. But I had to point it out to her. She didn’t see it herself.  She was focusing on her depression. She didn’t see the little ray of sunshine peeking through, but I did.

I would consider that that was a grace note that God gave her through my remarks. Grace often comes through another person. You might well be that person for someone else. I’ve certainly felt God’s grace from the kindness or remarks from another person.

(This next part was written in 2013. It’s hard for me to read it because it reminds me how much I miss my mom. Of course, I’ve been cleaning out the basement and reorganizing things and I’ve come across a lot of mementos from my children and grandchildren which made me all teary-eyed. Reading these next few paragraphs is bittersweet.)

“I took my mom to the ophthalmologist yesterday. She suffered a fall six months ago, experienced severe vertigo, serious depression, and a host of other things and has only been out of the house in the last six months for various doctor’s appointments and a couple of visits to family. Afterward, we went grocery shopping and out to lunch. We were out for over four hours.  That would have been a record even before she fell.

So today I’m feeling all warm inside as I reflect on our time together, on having had my mom “back” for even the briefest of time. I know tomorrow might be a different story but I am encouraged that this might be the beginning of having her regain much of what she’s lost. even the contrariness and stubbornness which will drive me nuts but which I will gladly embrace.”

Grace gives us hope for tomorrow and breathing space for today.

So today I’m so thankful for the four-hour grace period that was gifted me yesterday. You might want to read yesterday’s post as well.

Thank you, God, for the unexpected shot of encouragement.”

So if depression is gaining a foothold in your life today, look for those grace moments. I can promise you they are there. I can promise that because God promises that. He says over and over again that He will never leave us or forsake us. That when grace is most needed it will be there. Just don’t miss it because sometimes it’s very “quiet” and unobtrusive.

Read the entire Psalm and you can’t help but see the deliberateness David voices. And in the last verse he says, “I will trust him again.”

God bless and I hope you have a good day.