Being a parent is hard. There is a need for structure as well as flexibility, and then a balance of both. I try to give lots of breathing space-to allow for the joy of life to ebb and flow… but at times, I’m caught off-guard by something and that spaciousness implodes upon itself like a painfully inhaled breath. Misunderstandings can really damper freedom and when you’re raising teenagers there are times when pesky mix-ups arise like an un-welcomed guest. Grace is the one mechanism that can fill our hearts again and allow freedom to expand, but the fall-out of the implosion still has to be cleaned up.
THAT is where I was the other night, as I tried to fall asleep. With tears, I sought a resolution. I was frustrated that I missed the opportunity to be gracious and, instead, allowed misunderstanding into the home that I strive to make a haven for those with whom I live. Instead of a place of peace there was pain. Unwittingly, grace was not extended to our child and because of that God stopped me in my tracks. I was genuinely upset but I didn’t know why; however, the Lord knew I needed a reminder of what grace is! I felt this need deeply, yet was at a loss. I fell asleep needing my heart to be mended.
The next morning, I was half-awake yet dreaming. I envisioned what I thought was the wording Zephaniah 2:17 on a piece of luggage being carried through a crowd. Sleepily, I consider blowing off this "out of left field" scripture... but chose to mutter it a few times and then opened my eyes enough to grab my phone to look up that verse; however, there isn’t a verse 17. I wondered if I was mistaken and that perhaps it was actually Zechariah 2:17; but there is no such verse in that book either. I was disappointed because I really needed to hear from the Lord but honestly felt that I needed to get my heart right before I could find peace. In consolation, I quoted a familiar scripture to start my day and got up. Over coffee, my husband and I agreed we needed to take the time to extend grace to our child and get our hearts back in the right place. We left the topic there and went to get dressed for church. I was getting ready to meet with the Lord and He was ready to meet with me!
We arrived, chatted with a few folks and walked in just a bit late; the congregation was already singing. I looked up to the large screens in the front of the sanctuary, that provide words to the songs, and underneath, in typical fashion, there was scripture that related to the song. It was Zephaniah 3:17!!!
It says:
“The Lord your God is with you,
the mighty warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
(make no mention of your past sins)
(make no mention of your past sins)
He will rejoice over you with singing!”
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
NOW, THAT IS GRACE!!! Mind-blowing Grace!
BTW:
The song, below, was playing in the car on the way to church
and was also sung at the end of the service!
NOTHING is ironic! LOL
Revelation Song
No comments:
Post a Comment