On the Lookout for Grace

The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness.
—Jeremiah 31:2a

It's good to be on the lookout for grace—even in times of turmoil and tumult when our soul feels as raw as an open wound. If we keep our eyes open, we'll be astonished to catch glimpses of grace all around us.

When life has beaten us down, we can find ourselves swallowed up in our pain, and grace seems as distant as the rings of Saturn. Being on the lookout for grace seems not only difficult, but even hopeless. Perhaps it is because our suffering is so great that God's compassion is so abundant.  

Being alert and watchful for grace also helps us endure. When we are in the midst of struggle or internal violence, we are tempted to turn to artificial means to numb our pain. Or our spirit can flag, and we are tempted to just give up.

God's power is always stronger than our pain, and what now seems unrelenting will, in time, pass. In that space between pain and relief, the Spirit of God is tending us and showering us with the grace that is beyond our wildest imaginings.

So, be on the lookout for grace even when your soul and spirit have been rubbed raw and your heart feels as empty as a desert canyon. Those who survive the pain of life are the ones who find God's movement in all places and in all things.

Gracious God, when suffering overtakes me, help me endure long enough to hear whispers of grace.