I do not at all understand the mystery of grace-only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us. -Anne Lamott
Grace. It is the gift of God. Because of his love, God freely pours out grace on humanity. God’s grace serves as the active force in our ongoing spiritual growth and improvement process.
Like a caterpillar that emerges as a beautiful butterfly, God brings about a metamorphosis in the one who receives his gift of grace. How does this metamorphosis take place? God works grace into the human soul to grow it into his likeness. His grace changes us. Ungodly habits that have become deeply rooted and natural to the soul come loose and separate from us. Grace drives out the undesirable elements of our personalities and replaces them with the attributes of God. We are being transformed into God’s image. When we experience the metamorphosis of grace, we will never be the same again.
Change does require a choice. We must be willing to receive God’s grace. There is a resistance to change. If you’ve ever been in the role of a change agent, you know what I’m talking about. Most of us tend to buck change—it’s more comfortable to stay the same, leave things the way they are, maintain the status quo.
Have you ever watched a butterfly struggle to get out of its cocoon? In its labored attempt, the butterfly is developing the strength of its new wings. Whatever you do, don’t try to assist the butterfly! Relieving it of the battle will cause its wings to be so weak that it will never fly. If we willingly embrace the promise of change, we will grow in the strength of grace, cast off our cocoon and discover our new wings.
Has fear of change ever kept you from choosing to receive God’s gift? God will never force you—but kindly invites you—to experience his transformational grace.
Then let us come near to the seat of grace without fear, so that mercy may be given to us, and we may get grace for our help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Susi Robinson Rutz 