Catch It and Release Grace ~

To live in the distance is a fear tactic, yet why do we collectively deny God's grace so often by distancing ourselves from the love and acceptance of Christ? People often choose a life of fear and sadness, or worse, it wants them. They may experience something they can't understand or relate to, so many choose comfort in what is right. Trapped or hopeless, they give in to that fearful state of mind that takes control of the emotional core of the psyche when confused. The sense of doom creeps, knowing life can and will change in a heartbeat. No matter how often change occurs, it has banter with our conscience; one thing we shy away from at its approach is change.

Life will change; we must accept the grace of said changes? The fantastic thing is this change or experience God allows for a reason. He has planned the curves and the straight lines in your life. We can stop living for the moment in joy and embrace what is to come because God connects our dots along the way.

Impulse acting is a human trait that confuses us still we do it. We may choose something and regret it or act and follow with a question. We may place ourselves in danger's path and expect the worst, getting caught in a downward spiral instead of grabbing the uplifting breeze of an angel's wings.

As we share emotions, we're naked and hurry to cover up; welcome to life after Eve's first bite of the apple in the garden. Today, it continues to entrap her descendant as we succumb to fears of rejection and sin. Leaning on God's grace is the better choice and, often, the last resort in this world. The hoax of fear and insecurity stands in the wings, ready to pounce on our joy, causing us to watch their back. Intimidation restricts making the best servants defensive and broken instead of comfortable, cohesive, and whole.

We lack trust in God's grace; this separates us from Him and leaves humanity in shambles, creating zombie shells to walk this earth. Falling into the pit of comfort is an expected fall. We have experienced the wrath of someone placing us. There is a cavity, and sometimes we do it to ourselves. A beloved story in the Bible depicts a reactive state when a threat causes vulnerability and how terrible jealousy can spoil and destroy a family.

The story of Joseph was a young man of seventeen, the age one starts in life with new freedoms today, such as getting your driver's license. Joseph was one of eleven brothers born to Jacob of Canaan, a time in life with much ahead looking forward. He was the second youngest Jacob doted upon his young son, even making him a coat of many colors; beautiful warm jackets were scarce. Because of their growing jealousy, the brother's disdain for Joseph grew. Joseph shared a dream with his brothers, saying, I had this strange dream. We were gathering grain in the fields, and suddenly, mine stood on end while yours bowed to mine.

The special treatment enraged the brothers as they claimed he felt he was better than they were, causing them to ally to kill Joseph. While in the fields, the brothers took the opportunity unbeknownst to Joseph and threw him into a well. The eldest brother Reuben did not want to kill his brother and thus suggested returning to him when the brothers calmed down. Then one brother spoke up as, after throwing him into the well, a group of people heading to Egypt to sell goods came upon them. The plan changed to trade him to them; this way, he is out of our hair, and we don't have to kill him. This family seeded with the thistle of evil that started with a dull coat of many colors.

By the grace of God, Joseph was never alone; God gave him the strength to endure slavery to the Pharaoh of Egypt and continued to provide joseph with dreams of enlightenment, causing the Pharaoh to seek Joseph's council. He became a great leader and a wealthy man honored in the land of Egypt. While a drought came to the area of Canaan, it again displayed God's grace and mercy as Joseph called his brothers from the famine of starvation, forgiving them and providing for their needs. Acknowledging their sin upon him and still overlooking, as God had called him to save others, and so he did the work of God's hands.

We decide the release made us uncomfortable, so we go to that place of comfort. We try to convince ourselves that if we stay away from the crisis, it won't happen. Somehow, if we do this, it protects us from their reality. The vulnerability can seed thistle. If we deny God's grace and mercy, we can trust Him or let the thistle take over, choking out what is right?

Life happens, and it's scary that it could be you, or worse yet, it might be someone you love. With this as a concern, we boast even louder than usual, stating things like, "Can you believe them? Or did you hear about so and so, or I bet they're in trouble or did something crazy?" Do we stop and pray for their peace? Often we don't. We sometimes retreat to our inner circles and cocoon ourselves from being enveloped in a situation. Why? I again do not understand. We're all broken and bleeding. No one means more to God in His eyes. Each trial is equally vital to HIM. Rather than running, try to stop the bleeding; it's a life-saving measure? What incredible grace do we deny by running into the darkness instead of the light?

It isn't easy to see the whole truth behind someone's reality. People post stories of undeniable pain of absolute joy all over the Internet. At first glance, we connect, and our hearts pump to respond or not. Some start comparing lives or poking to find holes in stories. How pathetic? If a good story gets to the media, they will dig until they can erode enough away to expose the raw reactions. When given something terrible, the press will sensationalize the pain or sadness. They slug it and choke everyone involved to make them bleed for the public's eye under the news mask. People cannot even grieve or experience a life moment without scrutiny, and wounds deepen. Like media, we fall victim to assumptions adding to separation and seclusion instead of unity.

Not that we enjoy this process, but we are fools of society. We thrive toward the negative. How wonderful would it be if we could put as much attention and dedication toward positive or solution-based outcomes? How willing would you be to show honesty if met with positive reactions and functional solutions pointing you toward God's GRACE?

I shared a story with some young people about releasing. I described those times when something has happened that has pushed each of you off track. Trying to explain how we all have moments of release when something has shaken us to the core, and you must let out a scream. We had all had these moments when the tears came so, and we had to stop them because we could no longer breathe. Then, as you end, so you can, at last, take a breath, you stuff up, hold your nose and puff your cheeks out, hoping to clear your airway. Once your throat becomes clear, you cycle again with a release of more sporadic crying and breathing. You hear the little voice inside you that says STOP; you need to breathe. So you sigh and cry and breathe and cry, and then you STOP. You calm yourself, and answers come. You catch it, the realization you are SO NOT ALONE. You feel a little desperate, but you are ready to listen in the quiet, long enough to get a hint of what to do next. Aloneness is sometimes where you catch it, the gift of the Holy Spirit, His pure grace, and mercy.

Is it possible that someone else had just begun theirs when you finally reached your release point and shared it?

Let me answer that. It's obvious, as we all experience our realities in different cycles. Therefore, someone is constantly undergoing a release, and someone still needs a hug.

Understanding their reality is not as relevant, for we all have truths that change. Some physical pain, some emotional, some loss, some gain, but each can use it for the greater good if given support. Knowing how to treat others with the Grace of God is more important. He allows us our moments of brokenness. He then lets us catch a whiff of Him and a caress of His spirit. He reminds us also in His word that He sent His son as a man so that we could relate to His humanness.

We should try to catch some of this GRACE God shares with us. We should then share that GRACE with others. They may have just been crying and spasmodically releasing and are now in the clearing of their storm. What if they're not? What if they are right amid their wind, and we judge them? Judgment may push them so far away; they never catch it! I have no right to keep this Grace from others because of there, but by the Grace of God, go I.

Read more Grace in the NIV Bible:

Ephesians 2: 8 NIV (it saves us by through faith by Grace is a gift from God)

John 1:14 NIV (The word became flesh, full of Grace and truth)

2Corinthians 1:2 NIV (Grace and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Colossians 3:16 NIV (Let the message of Christ dwelling among you... Singing to God with Gratitude in your hearts)

Let's keep our eyes open; perhaps someone is hurting, lost, or alone. We could show them some Grace, a smile, or even a hug. Don't be bold; their reality is not yours, so you can't fully understand it. God allows revealed knowledge in His timing. The truth of knowing THE GRACE OF GOD may save them, and it is for everyone, so share it!