Grit and Grace

 by Macy Johnson

“For I hear the slander of many;

there is terror on every side;

they conspire against me

and plot to take my life.”

(Psalm 31:13 NIV)

 

King David was under attack, not just once, but all the time. He was continually tossed about by people and circumstances. God had promised he would be king, but he would be battered into shape before crowned and placed into royalty.

 

Carey Scott wrote, “Life has a way of beating us up and making us doubt our worth. It takes grit and grace to walk in this life. And it takes a whole lot of faith-filled choices to not let it discourage us.”

 

I received an early morning phone call from my daughter, Libby. “Mom!” she said, “I have just had a major answer to prayer!” She proceeded to reveal twists and turns in her life that had miraculously straightened out that morning. A deadline looming a few days ahead had been joyfully met and she was coming out of the darkness into the light. Painful battles were won and she gave her heavenly Father all the glory.  

 

My church was under Satan’s attack. At one town hall meeting, it seemed as if our love for each other had dissipated. We climbed over each other in a fragile effort to reach for peace. After our ministers resigned, a kind, compassionate interim pastor moved in and labored to restore peace to our congregation. Full of grit and grace, Pastor Bob turned our hearts away from ourselves back to serve with compassion for others. He worked to refocus our attention on Christ.

 

“But I trust in you, O Lord;

I say, “You are my God.”

(Psalm 31:14 NIV)

 

Nothing can touch me outside my heavenly Father’s perfect will.

 

I will remember who I am and Who I belong to. I hope you will, too!