13. God’s grace is displayed in His patience with and forgiveness of my “slowness” on the journey.

 
 
transformation 13.jpeg
 
 
 

(Before looking at the questions below, take a few minutes to think about this statement. Invite Jesus to speak to you about what He would like you to notice.) 

If the goal of your journey is transformation and growing in intimacy with Jesus, how does His grace and forgiveness help this?

How does His grace help you enjoy the journey and not become discouraged?

Jesus expresses His grace through forgiveness and staying with us even in our failures. How have you experienced this grace?

Do you ever feel like Jesus loses His patience with you? Where do you think this feeling comes from?

“He does not treat us as our sins deserve
 or repay us according to our iniquities.
 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
 so great is his love for those who fear him; 
as far as the east is from the west,
 so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:10-12 [NIV])

We must regularly remind ourselves that our sin, our failures to respond to life situations as we should, and even our turning away from God at times, do not cause God to turn from us and abandon us our journey. God is not surprised or shaken by our sin. This truth is countercultural for many of us.

Early on we are taught that “every action has a consequence,” “you reap what you sow,” and “no pain” means “no gain.” Employees are compensated according to their work and productivity. Children are given grades that reward achievements or show failure. Even most friendships and marriages have expectations that, when not met, affect the relationship. With all this conditioning it can be difficult to believe that God is not like us and does not have these conditions for our relationship with Him.

It is important for us to continually remind ourselves of the unconditional relational love that God has for us. When we fail, we tend to imagine that God is done with us or will certainly punish us, so we pull back from the relationship. Satan’s voice may also work at causing us to feel unworthy, shameful, and rejected by God.

But this is not what God wants. He forgives and does not condemn. He pleads with us to keep on, stay in relationship with Him, and continue in the journey of our transformation.

 
 
 

SEEKING GUIDANCE?