Five Life-Changing Words

Life can be BRUTAL!

I intended to share some thoughts on the hardships and hurts of the difficult parts of life. I planned to rework some of the ideas mentioned in a recent article by a good counselor and writer. I decided it would be best to defer to his recent article.

“Five Life-Changing Words“ by Paul David Tripp

James 4 paints one of the most honest portraits of life in a fallen world.

We are guaranteed to experience conflict and disappointment in our relationships: “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?” (v.1)

We are guaranteed to experience sinful, selfish desires, even as we try to live a pure and righteous life: “Your passions are at war within you” (v.1)

We are guaranteed to experience outside assault and temptation from the enemy: “Resist the devil” (v. 7)

We are guaranteed to experience sadness, suffering, and loss: “Mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.” (v. 9)

We are guaranteed to experience uncertainty and surprises: “You do not know what tomorrow will bring.” (v. 14)

Wow, this passage is brutally honest about what we all face! Does the harsh reality of living in a sinful, fallen world make you want to give up and quit?

Thankfully, this passage doesn’t leave us there. In the middle of James 4 is a little phrase that changes everything. It’s not an exaggeration to say that these are perhaps the five most life-changing words ever written: “But God gives more grace.” (v. 6)

BUT GOD GIVES MORE GRACE!

In the midst of it all, we are guaranteed grace!

Yes, life in a fallen world will be terribly discouraging and painful at times. The Bible never requires that you deny reality and pretend that Christianity transports you to a mythical island where you can live alone with Jesus in peace, while everything around you falls apart.

But, no matter what you are facing, you don’t need to panic. You don’t need to fear. You don’t need to consider abandoning hope.

Why? Because there is grace for whatever struggle you are facing. Hope is found in the One who has invaded your life by his grace. You are never alone.

Jesus is with you. Jesus is in you. Jesus is for you. He offers you grace that is up to the task even when you’re not.

On the back roads and the
byways
there is grace.
In the throne room
and the boardroom
there is grace.
In the valleys and on the
mountaintop
there is grace.
In the cottage and in the
mansion
there is grace.
In the farmlands and in the
city
there is grace.
For the young and the
old
there is grace.
For the weak and the
strong
there is grace.
For the healthy and the
sick
there is grace.
For the lonely and the
loved
there is grace.
For the sad ones and the
happy
there is grace.
For the hopeful and the
hopeless
there is grace.
For the joyful and the
joyless
there is grace.
For the grieving and those
celebrating
there is grace.
For the welcomed and the
forsaken
there is grace.
For the faithful and the
faithless
there is grace.
For the believer and the
doubter
there is grace.
For the courageous and the
fearful
there is grace.
In the darkness and in the
light
there is grace.
For the sinner and the
seeker
there is grace.
For the worshipper and the
rebel
there is grace.
In the shadows and the
sunlight
there is grace.
In the morning and the
nighttime
there is grace.
For all creation and every
image bearer
there is grace.
For what has been and what is
to come
there is grace.
For what you regret and what you
deny
there is grace.
Everywhere you
are,
no matter who you
are,
no matter what you
face,
no matter what you
need,
no matter what you
feel,
no matter what you’ve
done,
no matter how great your
shame,
no matter how big your
guilt,
there is grace.
For now and for
forever,
there is grace.

Now, go celebrate by reading God’s Word.

BUT GOD GIVES MORE GRACE!

EYES UP! LOVE YOU!