Pace of Grace

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Walking in the pace of grace; this will be a little mash-up from some of the teachings I’ve been privileged to listen to.

Just the other day I watched two amazing poets speak with so much grace, I stood there staring at my phone in awe of how a person could be this poised. I started having this lingering inside of me on how being a spoken word artist might be an amazing career for me. There’re so many other people in their respective fields that excel so greatly in it that makes you just look up to them or desire to be more like them. This struck a chord in me; that what matters is doing what God has called you to do, and that’s the only thing you can do eloquently without much strife or struggle.

The truth is we all want to do what God has called us to do but the only problem is that most times it seems blurry; we don’t even know what He has called us to do and this is where the title of this post came from (I’m getting pretty good with this title thing). God equips us for the purpose He calls us for and most times we don’t get to see it but we have to trust that everything we’ve gone through is building us up to that life He has destined for us.

Jesus had 3 years to change the world but He didn’t rush through the process, He took everything a step at a time; When He was called to heal the soldier's daughter (Luke 21:22-43), you could see him walking and even though the girl was at the verge of death, He understood that there was a miracle at every phase/stage; If He had rushed, how would the lady with the issue of blood touch His garment and the glory of God revealed through her? And though the girl died, it was for a bigger glory (she was brought back to life). In Igbo, that’s a proverb that goes this way “Ima gba kari Chi gi n’so (meaning: you cannot run faster than your God). Yes, we all want to get to the top (I too want to get to the top so bad) but if you rush beyond the grace God has assigned to you, you’ll end up miserable because you will be so overwhelmed with much strife, labor, and unhappiness. 

I cannot ignore the fact that we tend to be stuck between not being fully aware of the pace at which we ought to go and the pace at which we're going at the moment. But by the grace of God, I believe the way we can fully understand is by being fully present and committed here and now; because it will open the door for tomorrow. You cannot ignore what you ought to do now and be bothered about tomorrow.

I believe that sometimes anxiety, fear, and insecurities creep in on us due to inadequate knowledge of who God is. If you spend time studying the word, you’ll realize that “everything” works together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). And the funny thing is before now when I read that scripture, I always overlook the first phrase and focus on the clause (for those who love God and called according to His purpose) I start doubting if I really love God or just want the blessings He has to offer or what does called according to His purpose even mean; what if I’m not called?

Let me start by saying God is an intentional God; and the bible says He knows the number of hairs in our head, He knew us even before we were formed in our mothers’ wombs and He has called us by His name (Psalm 139), so yes we’re all created for a purpose (we’re purposeful beings) and If you wonder whether your intentions are pure (the fact that it bothers you means you really want to and honestly you can ask God for anything; His Spirit is in you, all you have to do is ask Him to help you).

I’ve come to the resolution that I only want what GOD wants me to have and I want to be all He has called me to be and nothing else. Because I know He will equip me with every grace, strength, and zeal to flourish in whatever He has called me to be with joy.  So when things don’t work out; I rejoice, when I don’t get the things I felt I needed; I rejoice, when the disappointments seem so overwhelming; I feel the most excited because I am so glad He’s leading and equipping me for what He has called me for just at His pace. Paul told the church in Roman that he considers that their present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in them (Romans 8:18).

 Presently, my favorite passage in the bible is 1 John 4:16-21, I say it out loud to myself when fear and anxiety creep in; “God is love, and perfect love drives out fear”. If you know who your God is, there’s absolutely nothing to be afraid of. The problem is we tend to project human attributes and weaknesses to a supernatural God. God is faithful, God is just, God is love, God does not lie; God can never sin against you or be unjust to you. God isn’t fickle or inconsistent as we’re, God is unchanging and He has not and will not change because your circumstances changed.

God has a personalized and individualized perfect plan for each of us. You might not like his timing or the pace He has graced you, but it’s perfectly the best. If you decide to do it your way; well… He got time, He’ll wait; after all, He is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18) 

Walk in the pace of grace; don’t beat yourself up and remain miserable, do what you can, and rest. Cast your anxiety and burdens on Him because He cares for you and He will sustain you (Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7). Tell God all you need and relax because I am certain He has it all under control, maybe not at the pace you’d want it but at the right pace; where you’d be marinated with all the subtle miracles and virtues that will sustain you so that your joy can be complete.

God is Love, and perfect love drives out fear.

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