GRACE

No matter your story, His grace is sufficient for you. Through your highs and lows, remember the enduring hope you have in Christ, and allow that to sustain you as you lament and praise on your journey.

-Stefanie Boyles

Webster’s Dictionary states the definition of grace is as follows: unmerited divine assistance given to humans for sanctification, a virtue coming from God; Approval, favor.

Here is what the bible says:

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”

2 Corinthians 12:9 “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.”

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

We all need grace. Where would we be without it? God is so merciful and gracious to forgive us. When we don’t obey Him. When we don’t make time for Him. When we do things we know we shouldn’t do. When we don’t put our faith in Him. 2021 shook my world. I was trying to wrap my head around everything happening in the world while finding out I was about to bring a child into the very world I started to fear. I let that affect my spiritual life. It’s why I feel so overwhelmed by the love of our Heavenly Father. He knows the end from the beginning. He seen me at my worst and loved me the same. He showed me so much grace last year!

I feel like grace is one of the most important aspects of motherhood. Your life is completely changed and it is so easy to get overwhelmed. It’s easy to make excuses for not doing your bible reading. It’s easy to blame your spouse for things that is not their fault. It’s easy to cut yourself off from friends and family because you can’t take another minute of someone telling you what you could be doing better for your child. Most of the time they don’t mean anything by it, but when you are listening with a heavy heart and tired body, it’s easy to get offended. I read something in a book not long ago that said “it’s easy to say we are too tired to get into His Word but that’s when it is the best time to be in it. There will never be a time when His Word is not vital.”

So this year I decided that I was going to wake up with that renewed grace God gives me each morning. You should too, friend.

With love,

Mariah