Point of Grace

Life is a series of significant "points" along a super highway, a graceful winding road, or the road less traveled.  Often times, the road is navigated by our own free will.  Is it "choice" that determines the "point" of our diversion? Dare we yield to Him?  

The other day I was headed to work.  Somehow, the highway I drive daily blurred before me and my thoughts were taken captive.  I missed my exit.  Taken off guard, I had to navigate back to a familiar road.  In a moment of frustration, it hit me.  How many times have we allowed ourselves to be held captive and missed the exit that Christ designed for us?   Thoughts poured into my head so quickly that I had to pull over and write these words:  Point of Grace.

I see so many people with JOY and immersed in Him and I secretly whisper, "God, I want that."  Their path is pure.  Mine is destructive.  I have uttered the words to my husband, "May we please sell our home and move into a very small home so we can simply breathe again?"  I would quit my job and pour my heart into PEOPLE rather than processes and management.  I would volunteer at the church and school and visit old people in nursing homes.  I would seek Him with FREEDOM in my day and replace the hectic complexities of speed and distraction with the simplicity of "breathing again."  

Everyone has a story to tell... a POINT in their lives filled with tragedy, shame, despair, contempt, hopelessness, pride, selfishness, guilt (and the list goes on).  They missed an exit or the road was suddenly closed.  They wandered into the darkness on a road less traveled.  Each unexpected path a small diversion for most, a lifetime of detours for others and sadly, a dead end for a few.  How then do these diversions become a POINT of GRACE? 

A series of GRACE filled events led me to a recent women's life group where revelations in my life began to unfold. God is so great.  He placed a loving friend in my life to whom I can be accountable; one who extends grace to me and who is teaching me how to yield to Him.  In this process, I determined the last major point at which I did not YIELD, missing the exit that placed me on this current road less traveled.  My dad died of cancer four years ago this December.  Exhaustive "effort" left our relationship without reconciliation and forgiveness.  I can't elaborate on the destructive path that began there, but here is the POINT of GRACE:  The end of me and total surrender to HIM.
Note:  I am still awaiting His revelation on this one.  I TRUST Him, though.  

While I accepted Christ as a child, I am just NOW learning, at 46, the word SURRENDER. There are NO U-TURNS in this journey.  It is simply the trust in HIM, knowing that He is SOVEREIGN in our lives. He knows when we take control and when we allow Him to navigate our hearts.  He stands at the door, all we have to do is open it each day. 

Have you missed your exit? simply pull over and think on this:  What POINT of GRACE is He revealing to you?  ASK and then LISTEN for direction.  How can I count this detour as Joy?  I TRUST You, God, that You know the end and the means to the end and irregardless of the loose gravel, the pot holes, the depths of despair, count it all as JOY.  Every moment of navigation through the dark is as an opportunity for people to see YOUR light through it.  When the storms inhibit our ability to see the road, speak into our hearts, bring on the rain.  On the other side of every dark cloud, there is a blue sky and on the other side of darkness, a sunrise awaits its turn to rise.

At the end of me, there YOU are revealing Your LOVE, Your PROMISE, Your HOPE.  ALL roads lead to YOU.  Proverbs 3:5-6- Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  

The POINT of GRACE is the CROSS.  GRACE is the POINT of LIVING.