While on a cruise around the Caribbean for spring break, I got to see so much of this wonderful world that God has created. I think traveling is one of the many wonders God wants for each and everyone of us, for we can learn so much about the power of His creation. On the cruise ship, it’s crazy how small you feel when the whole ocean is surrounding you. I can remember looking out to the ocean and seeing the white caps ride along with the huge, blue waves of the water, and there was one thing the waves reminded me of: God’s grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Grace is defined as the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings. Grace is the foundation of faith because when we choose to accept His unconditional love for us, we believe that despite our flaws and sins, our Father will still grant us forgiveness. Looking out into the ocean, you realize how powerful the waves are; it demonstrates how strong and continuous God's grace really is.
One piece about God's grace is that we don't have to earn it. God has pre-destined us, called us, and made us His. This thought is so humbling. Many times in our lives, we feel like we have to act a certain way, or perform well in a sport just to receive a compliment, achieve a 'good-enough' GPA or meet a certain standard. However, when we live our life for God and learn to accept his grace, we are set free of meeting standards. You don't have to impress him, you don't even have to be free of sin, and this is why we are so undeserving of this love. But we are enough by ourselves. We are enough. Isn't that the best feeling we could ever possess?
Sometimes we may even feel lost or undeserving of this love. We have no clue where our ship is being anchored and don't even know what's next in our relationship with God. But with grace, God doesn't determine whether or not we're worthy of it because we are. No matter how many times we sin, how many times we doubt, give up, or lose sight of our purpose, the power of His dignity overcomes everything.
Grace never ends. Just like the waves of an ocean, God’s grace for us is eternal, continuous. Standing out on the pier, you could watch the waves all day and not get sick of the gorgeous view. No matter how rough or how calm the waves of our life are, we can know that God's waves of grace are always flowing.
Every day, people think about possessions they wish they had that would either make them happier, skinnier, prettier, fitter, and so on. But when we have God and His grace and love, we have everything we could possibly need for our fulfillment. Grace is a crazy concept, and yet another component of God that is hard to wrap your brain around. I can't think of one person on this earth that could know everything about you: weaknesses, sins, addictions, flaws, habits, and still love you more than ever. What would it be like if we could extend our grace and love to others? Christians should be the happiest people; we have this incredible, replaceable gift of eternal love that God gave you. And nothing, nothing, could every replace that. Your grace is enough God, thank you for all of the waves.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
