When I fall so short
And something rises underneath
Lifting me to reach
What once I couldn’t
That is grace.

When I don’t deserve it
And divinity steps in,
Making up for my
Desperately wanting mortality
That is grace.

When I don’t stand a chance
Yet inexplicably I emerge
Winning what I couldn’t fight:
Honor earned, undeserved
That is grace.

When all the man I am
Plugs me to eternal darkness
Pining in hopelessness, and God
Steps in, steps down so I can step up
That is grace.

And when another falls
So short I roll my eyes
Wondering, “How on earth. . .”
Yet, I stop, I stoop so he can stand
That is grace.

The subject of grace is as amazing as it is inexhaustible. It is not one of those things we can explain away or justify. It is just what it is; plain old grace – honor undeserved, favor not earned, beauty for ashes, promotion not worked for, elevation of the base, salvation from damnation, liberty for the unworthy, allowance paid for by another, mercy for the contemptible, forgiveness for the inexcusable, exoneration of the guilty, glory bequeathed the unfit, qualification of the ineligible, selection of the unsuitable, goodwill upon the good-for-nothing, the list could go on forever. Do you see yourself anywhere on that list? I appear on several if not all of those items.

Who amongst us is qualified for God’s blessings? You probably think you work hard enough to enjoy a good remuneration right? Well, there are millions that work harder and earn no better. We cannot deny there are those who feel that they sure deserve better than they are getting right now. And possibly, we think we are in that category. Equally, there have been times when it was glaringly clear that we deserved less than we actually ended up with. Such is life. It goes up and it goes down. Yet through it all, grace appears when least expected, allowing us to enjoy what we can’t afford, paving the way for surprises that spice up life’s mundane routines.

Typically, life should serve each of us a due course; you get in the measure that you give, everything, good and bad and in between. But we all know there is no formula to life. Good and bad comes to one and all and each must learn to bear whatever shows up at the door. Yet, in the midst of all the certain uncertainties of life, grace is one sure benefit we can trust God for; grace to bear the unbearable and live through whatever life throws at us.

Grace does not create an utopian world around us where all is smooth and perfect so we can live happily ever after. It does not remove the difficulties and challenges of daily living. It does not lull us to lay back and dream all night or sit all day with folded arms and our expectations will fall right into our laps. Neither does it compel us to struggle and sweat for every blessing we desire. Much as it doesn’t encourage laziness and carelessness, it also is not a slave driver. Grace will not do what we should. It focuses on those things we can’t do.

Whenever and wherever we fall short, grace abounds. Yet, it doesn’t exhort us to go ahead in error so that it would keep abounding. The beautiful thing about grace is that it gives us access to that inner tranquility that keeps one intact despite external storms, steering constantly, tirelessly, toward serenity. It equips us with the divine enablement to live fruitfully irrespective of seasons. It takes our eyes away from the choking pressures of life so that by faith, we see the invisible and learn to enjoy heaven on earth. It helps us defeat the difficulties and scale the challenges that daily come our way. Grace encourages us to work harder than the rest; to give willingly, help joyfully, and endure cheerfully what others may not because we have the certainty of reward. Above all, beautiful grace teaches us to say no to ungodliness.

A typical picture is the tree that is planted by the water side; it enjoys unlimited productivity and profitability despite seemingly prevailing seasons. It flourishes and is ever green because unlike others, it is connected to a source that never dries up – that is the distinguishing factor. Planted in God’s boundless grace, we flourish to the surprise of others, even in famine. Grace is the ultimate connection that assures us that we can do all things through Christ, our secret super power. Grace enables us to do all that we have to, not shoddily, and not like the rest, but excellently irrespective of witnesses or rewards. That connection makes all the difference. Who are you connected to?

As God’s children, we are connected to the Giver of every good and perfect gift through the hose of grace. Love is the pump that powers that eternal system and grace ensures the safe delivery of every blessing irrespective of attitudes and altitudes. From Abba’s end, the valves are ever free and always open but each of us determines whether to open or shut the valves of our hearts to the ceaseless flow of all the blessings that pertain to life and godliness. God’s superabundant riches are in a continuous flow towards you and I. Are you positioned to receive? I think it is time you checked your valve.

God’s blessings are packaged to meet the needs of each season of your life. What that means is that irrespective of your circumstances and location, God has already sent them your way. Yes, they are heading towards you. Is your heart prepared to receive them? Are your arms ready to embrace them? Is your house set to contain them? Most importantly, can you see them coming your way? A friend shared with me a heartbreaking story where she was cheerfully offering someone something he really needed but he couldn’t take it. Why? He had no place to keep it. Can you imagine such a disaster? Yet, that is where a lot of us are today.

Grace has brought us into the place of favor with the King. We have been qualified and chosen, and every day the blessings are pumped through channels of grace. Many of us are impoverished because we are not connected. Some of us are connected but not ready, too distracted, the tiny space we have is cluttered with all the miserable issues we shouldn’t keep, which we can’t give up to make room for what we truly and direly need. Blessings flow daily yet we thirst and want because it passes our houses to others – the taps to our homes are shut so they can’t flow in. What a pitiable way to live? Yet, that is the everyday story of many like you and me.

Thus says the Lord to you today, “Lift up your eyes and look, as far as your eyes can see, as much as your heart can take, according to your faith, so shall it be given unto you.” Now what is the measure of your faith? How fat is your expectation? The blessings of grace are unlimited by your limitations. They are so much more than you can ever think or ask. Contrary to popular opinion that blessings are rare, God’s blessings are in ceaseless flow and like His mercies, they are new not few, every single day.

David said, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread,” (Psalm 37:25). Are you the righteous or the seed of the righteous? Any of the two qualifies you for the connection that makes for distinction. Beloved, you are not forsaken. You are not forgotten. Therefore your needs are richly supplied, not according to global economic standards but according to God’s infinite riches in Christ. According to the time of life, God has purposed to meet every need superabundantly. My assignment is to stir you up and steer you to open your valves and receive. You are already qualified, already selected, already positioned. . . .

Glory!