From Brokenness to Grace: A Journey of Faith and Redemption
Have you ever felt so hurt and confused that you wanted to feel nothing at all? Have you struggled to trust God or His people after a painful experience? If so, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too, and I want to share my story of how God’s grace found me in my darkest moments.
The Spiral of Sin and Separation
In 2009, I found myself in a rough spot. Despite being a Christian for a decade, I had been deeply hurt by a church experience and lost my way. I had a horrible experience in Church and was very hurt by the pastor. So to say I had some trust issues with God’s people would be underreporting my problem.
This pain led me down a dangerous path. For 2 years I ran to the clubs, to bars, and away from my husband and our 2-year-old son. I had a problem. It wasn’t the friends, it wasn’t the attention from others, it wasn’t even the drugs or alcohol or the magical combination I ran after every weekend.
The real issue was internal. As Romans 3:23 tells us, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We have a sin problem, and sin is “the condition of being separated from God by our choices.
God’s Grace: The Extended Hand of Love
But here’s the beautiful truth: even in our darkest moments, God’s grace abounds. God never stops loving us and His grace is always reaching toward us. This grace is perfectly exemplified in Romans 3:24 (NIV), which says, “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
God’s grace to me was His love and hand extended, even when I was running in the opposite direction. It’s important to understand that “Grace is the source, faith is the condition of salvation.
The Power of Saving Faith
So, what does this saving faith look like? It’s more than just head knowledge or cold belief. As Romans 10:9-10 explains, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Christian faith is more than believing the gospel—it’s fully trusting in Christ’s sacrifice, relying on His life, death, and resurrection for our salvation, and staying united with Him as our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
What Are We Saved From?
Through God’s grace and our faith response, we are saved from:
1. The guilt of all past sin
2. Fear and bondage
As Romans 8:15-16 beautifully puts it, “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
Putting It Into Practice: Accepting the Gift of Grace
The apostle Paul summarizes this incredible truth in Ephesians 2:8: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
So, how do we respond to this amazing gift of grace? The answer is simple yet profound: we accept it. Whether you’re hearing this for the first time or you need to be reminded of God’s grace in your life, I encourage you to open your heart to His love today.
Next Steps:
1. Reflect on areas in your life where you might be running from God or struggling to trust Him.
2. Meditate on Ephesians 2:8 and consider what it means for your life personally.
3. If you’ve never accepted God’s gift of grace, take that step today. Pray, asking God to forgive your sins and inviting Jesus into your life.
4. If you’re already a believer but have been struggling, renew your commitment to trust in God’s grace and live by faith.
5. Share your story of God’s grace with someone who might be struggling, just as I’ve shared mine with you today.
Remember, no matter where you are in your journey, God’s grace is sufficient, and His love for you is unchanging. Trust in Him, for He is worthy of our faith and trust.
Resources:
John Wesley’s Scripture Way of Salvation
All Scripture taken from the NIV unless otherwise noted.
Photo of the Adams’ Family – Alphie, Emma, Keane, Oliver, and Phoebe taken in 2020 by Erica Beck https://www.ericabeckphotography.com