Giving Grace

The concept of grace is complex, yet so simple.

I had a recent conversation with a friend that I've gotten close with this past year: one I know will stick with me forever. I am so thankful for the times we spend together, as we confess things we've been struggling with, swap advice, & laugh about the weird habits our mutual professor has the tendency to do during class.

As we were catching up, we stumbled upon the topic of grace.

We both agreed that grace is a concept that is and will forever be super difficult to wrap our minds around. It's easy to understand that grace is given to us by God everyday, since the minute we decide to put our trust in Him...But what has been frustrating to understand about it, is how to actually implement it in our lives every day to ourselves and to others around us.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God," Ephesians 2:8

Car Convictions

So.. recently, God has been speaking to me in the oddest situations: while driving my car. As I pump the brakes, trying not to slide on the icy roads, His voice of truth seems to distract me. I know that sounds bad when I say it, but when my hands are on the wheel and the radio up, He has been speaking so clearly to me in the times I need it...even if I don't want to hear it.

Finals week is approaching, which means that my stress levels are off the charts. And as an advertising major, it seems as if every course I have taken involves group work. Group projects can be a hit or miss...and this current one of the many I am in right now is a definite MISS.

Since the beginning of the semester, one of my classmates in my group has rejected and made it a point to pick apart everything I have contributed to the project. Which is contradicting, because it seems as if I've had to do everything for the project (maybe because I'm type A about these kind of things, but it wasn't entirely voluntary). As we were preparing to submit our project for our final grade, my group member decided to criticize everything I put together. And as I sat there and listened to all of their complaints, I could've remained silent, but the passive-aggressive comments in my mind started to slip out of my mouth. Leaving that meeting, I felt as if my blood was boiling in my veins. Needless to say, I slammed my car door extra hard that day.

As I was driving home, a voice in the back of my mind started saying, Why are you so quick to anger? She probably has a lot on her plate too. Caitlin, you don't need to perfect everything...and when you try, why are you selfish about it? Give her grace. In that moment, I knew God was the one speaking to me, and I started to re-analyze my attitude.

Colossians 3:13 says, "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." This verse really hits home. So often do I want to ignore the grace I should give people and subconsciously glamorize my pridefulness. As a Christian who is still broken and still makes mistakes, learning to follow in the footsteps of Jesus by giving grace is so hard, but so worth it -- to glorify the God who sent His son to die for us, no questions asked.