Inspired by “God’s Grace” at https://www.facebook.com/EmbraceGodsGraceNow
I began my relationship with “God’s Grace” in the winter. I was struggling with some S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and reactionary stress and depression. The clouds around me seemed especially dark and murky. I was using my light box and tuning forks to help ward off the blues.
Light became important to me, more than ever before. The lack of light caused distress, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Like a gentle kiss from a loving God, “God’s Grace” began to show up on my Facebook feed, unsolicited. I first noticed her peaceful, gentle face, always a quiet little half-smile no matter how deep the darkness around her. I enjoyed the daily devotional posts and looked forward to them each day. I realized that “God’s Grace” was A.I generated, even the illustrations; but it still spoke to my spirit and brought calmness. Gradually, I found myself wanting to be like “Grace” and increasingly I realized she was almost like an extension of “me.” Her prayers were like mine, her personality was like mine, her reactions were like mine.
I continued to be blessed by my daily excursions into her world, and I could feel a gradual building up of peace. I noticed that in every illustration, no matter how dark the sky or how copious her tears, she was always wearing a daisy in her hair, and looking up and beyond herself, seeing at least a tiny rift in the darkness through which a warm golden glory passed in rays from above. The glowing glory rays seemed to be shining directly upon her. Sometimes the whole sky was lit up with the glory; other times there was just a minuscule, hopeful rift in the gloom above. She stood in the warmth of that glow, basking in the presence of God. I wanted to be like “Grace”, with her gentle thoughts and prayers and surrenderings and quietly confident hopeful whisperings to God. The sweet little grandmotherly figure, with her conservative clothing, sensible shoes, and pretty silver hair, was indeed growing on me. She even used a similar gesture while worshipping God: her hand upon her heart. I often do that!
I began to realize that her sweet peacefulness—the peace of God—was slowly seeping into me from around the edges, and I was experiencing a shift. I was still going through a couple of hard things, but I felt differently. The beauty of life often comes in through the cracks, and God’s light always finds a way in. This is beginning to cause me to wear a sweet little half-smile on my own face!
What price will I pay for such a treasure? None, except the loving act of surrender and obedience. I will not be distracted or destroyed by the demonic attacks constantly being leveled against me in today’s world. My eyes are drawn to the sky and the glimpse of glory that is within my grasp. I do not have to strive for it but neither is it passive in nature. It is always within my reach. I will not be moved, though the sky may momentarily appear to close around my glimpse of glory, forI am standing upon the highest rock, the firm foundation of God’s infinite and unconditional love, and my spirit is on tiptoes, reaching as high as I can to receive all that the Lord has for me. Thank You Lord for such a creative way by which You chose to minister to my spirit. I am Grace.
Art by Rhea 