Discovering Grace In Unexpected Places

I've been in Florida this week, caring for my youngest son while his mom is on a trip.  He's nearly fifteen, so he doesn't require much, except to be driven to and from school, and to ensure there is enough food in the house. 

That last bit is more challenging than it sounds because he's still growing, and he's playing football for the Spring, so he can eat a great deal, as I'm discovering anew.  

I have attended my son's football practices this week, sitting in the stands and watching in the blistering Florida heat each afternoon. I was sitting roughly in the same spot where I sat sixteen years ago, watching his older brother practice on the same field. 

The other afternoon, he made an incredible play during a scrimmage. He caught a pass across the middle of the field and carried three other kids with him into the endzone.  

Then, just like his older brother used to, my boy looked over to me, where I was sitting, to see if I had been watching.  

I was overcome by a sense of just how important that moment was. I'm not around for many of those things, so it felt like grace.  There has been more than enough pain over the past couple of years, but I had to marvel at how God worked in the midst of it to show grace and restoration.    

Life can be unpredictable, and sometimes, we feel we've made a mess of things—mistakes, regrets, or circumstances beyond our control. Yet, amidst the chaos and disappointment, a profound truth offers hope: God's grace is restorative, always ready to renew and heal even the deepest wounds.

Fr. Richard Rohr beautifully speaks about grace as a gift and a transformative process. He writes:  

“Grace is not opposed to effort, but to earning. It’s about what God does for us, free of charge, not what we can do to deserve it.” 

This reminder shifts our perspective from a mindset of guilt or obligation to one of openness and reliance on God's unmerited favor. When we stumble, God's grace does not condemn us but gently restores us, calling us back into God's loving embrace.

The Bible powerfully echoes this hopeful truth. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul shares God's reassuring words: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 

No matter how broken or overwhelmed we may feel, God's grace provides the strength to start anew. God's power truly shines in our weakness, reminding us that even our lowest moments are opportunities for God's divine work in our lives.

When we experience a mess in life—perhaps a painful breakup, the loss of a loved one, or a failure that shakes our confidence—remember that these moments are not the end of our story. 

God specializes in taking our broken pieces and crafting something beautiful from them. His grace meets us in our lowest points, not to shame us but to restore us—to breathe new life into our wounded spirits and set our feet on a new path of hope.

To those carrying the weight of traumatic experiences, I encourage you to cling to this truth: God's grace is greater than any hardship you face. God's love does not abandon you; it sustains and transforms. Healing may take time, and the journey may be difficult, but trust that God's grace is always present, offering peace, restoration, and new beginnings.

In moments of despair, hold onto hope. God's grace is enough to turn your mess into a message, your weakness into strength, and your pain into purpose. 

Rest in God's love, receive forgiveness, and allow God's grace to renew your Spirit. Remember, no matter how shattered life may seem, God's restorative power is greater, bringing hope, healing, and new life out of even the most broken circumstances.

May it be so, and may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever. Amen.