If there is one word which encompasses a common theme for my life, that word would be grace. Not man's restrained, conditional, and flawed grace, but God's un-restrained, un-conditional, undeserved, and flaw-less grace. In good times, God's grace covered me. In tough times, God's grace covered me. In my mistakes, God's grace covered me. Even in my shame, God's grace covered me. Scripture tells us in Ephesians 2:8, "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And, you cannot take credit for this; it is a gift from God." Accepting, and believing, that God's Word is sound and true, then I have just one question for you, "Why is it sometimes so difficult to extend the same measure of grace to the next woman, as you know that you have certainly received?" In accepting to walk in the purpose of my assignment, God is showing me that He is able to use my mess for His message-His message of the gift of His grace. If I am being transparent, I knew this task would be challenging. Challenging because I knew that self house cleaning would be inevitable. Now really, who really likes to clean? But, if we're being honest, who really needs to clean? But, who really needs to clean?
As I began this process of self house cleaning, this one phrase kept ringing in my spirit, "God's glory, being revealed through you, will manifest as you practice what you preach." Those weren't just words for the moment, but those were words for a lifestyle. So, in my practice, I'm learning to stand exposed. I'm learning to be transparent. I'm learning to stand accountable in my truth. I'm learning to stand in integrity. No matter how it looks, feel, or even smell.
May I share something with you? God's grace has not failed me yet. And, it never will! I am here to testify that never at any point in my life has God forgotten about me. And, guess what? I have a little secret to share with you, "God has not forgotten about you either." The same undeserved and flaw-less grace that God extends to me, is the same undeserved and flaw-less grace that He desires to extend to you as well. All He asks is that you believe in Him.
Initially, it was not unveiled to me why it was that I had to expose the most vulnerable aspects of my life. However, as I continue to God-vigate my journey, God gives me, what I like to call 'snippets.' And, one of the little 'snippets' revealed to me, was that in order to make myself relatable to other women, I would actually have to be able to relate. Be relatable to the guilt that the next woman may have experienced. Be relatable to the insecurities that my fellow sister(s) may have struggled with. Be relatable to the embarrassment that may have plagued you; enough to make you want to run and hide. Or, being relatable to the shame that may have burdened you to the point where all you want to do is hang your head in disgust and disbelief. So, if that meant that I would have to go first, I am assured that God has equipped me for the journey. First to expose myself. First to stand accountable. First to be transparent. First to share the little pearls of wisdom that God's grace has allowed me to gather along the way. Little pearls of grace to walk, to stand still, to endure, to sustain, and to triumph.
#TeamWelcomeToTheGraceChronicles
