It’s easy to recognize grace when it shows up as mercy, forgiveness, or as escaping consequences we deserve. We like it when God’s grace sounds like “yes.” YES, to mercy. YES, to blessing. YES, to provision. That’s the kind of grace we like to hear about in sermons, and sing about in worship. But sometimes God’s grace is harder to recognize. Because sometimes, grace sounds like “no.” And those “no” moments can be the most important moments in your life. When grace steps in, protects you from yourself, stops you from sinning, keeps you from blowing your life up, it may not feel like grace. “No” moments feel inconvenient, interruptive, resistant, even frustrating. Imagine if God gave us the kind of heart that could recognize those moments for what they really are: moments when grace has stopped us in our tracks. Imagine how that would change our day-to-day walk with Jesus. Imagine how much stronger our precious church family would be if we all could have that wisdom. It’s the kind of grace most of us don’t recognize… and even fewer of us are willing to embrace. That’s the kind of moment we’re stepping into today.
