The second you are born you are immersed, ankle deep, in the vast ocean of God’s grace. It is a beautiful common grace that we all experience. The ability to enjoy the gifts that God has lavished on sinful men—fresh spring days, a soft rain, a kiss from a loved one, the smell of hamburgers grilling, a warm shower, the ability to forgive…and breathe. All of these are evidences that God has extended grace to all mankind.
He draws you, he calls you by name, and you decide whether or not to go deeper into the rolling ocean of His grace.
When you decide to wade into deep water, you find yourself almost drowning. Drowning. Deeply submerged in the never ending, vast ocean of God’s grace. It saturates you, holds you, and it carries you through each second. You become ever aware of the fact that if you had not waded in, you would be lost.
Then something happens – a loved one dies, a child rebels, your health fails, your husband loses his job – and you lose hope. You forget you are immersed in the deep ocean of grace. You look around, desperate for help, and that needed help comes in the form of a powerful wave. It overwhelms you and takes your breath away. The huge rolling wave of grace engulfs you. It splashes through you, filling your nostrils so you can barely breath, and yet it fills you with life, strength, and calm. You are lifted and carried through the worst days.
And then you remember the ocean you are standing in.
Be aware. Notice it. Look back over your life and trace the grace, It’s a gift. It’s what carries you. Notice the waves that wash over you. Be aware. Open your eyes to the flood of God’s grace. God’s grace empowers you to be who God made you to be. It carries you every second, minute, and hour of every day. Every year. Every season. Our best days are filled with undeserved grace. Our hardest days are filled with and extra amount of undeserved grace.
Celebrate. Fill your hands with the deep, blue ocean and splash around in the grace! Lift your hands and yell, “AMAZING! AMAZING GRACE! Be overwhelmed and drown in the powerful, unstoppable, crashing waves of God’s amazing grace!
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”