Praise God for His Soothing Grace!

Read: Matthew 5:43-45; Acts 14:16-17; Acts 17:26-27

There are so many beautiful facets of the character of God. His ways and works display balance that only He can wholly understand, Romans 11:33-36; yet, the glimpses that we can observe concerning the Lord are truly magnificent. For example, He will one day deal with all that has been so wrong here. No one will say that injustice has prevailed, Psalm 96:10-13. All creation will be put right again, Romans 8:19-22. Creation will no longer groan; instead, there will be, everlasting joy in every part of God's kingdom, Isaiah 35, especially Isaiah 35:10. How good is that! Yet, we're not yet there; however, while we wait, we have something precious. Something available to everyone. Even those who don't yet know Jesus or even want Him. It is a gift that God has freely given to all people. Soothing grace. At least, that's my name for it. May I explain what I mean?

Soothing grace is the beautiful gifts God has tucked into His world. Things like snowflakes and rain. Things like laughter and tears. Things like little bunnies and majestic eagles. Things like chocolate cake and beans and rice. Things like majestic mountains and bubbling brooks. The list is pretty much inexhaustible. Imagine this treasure trove of gifts there for the enjoying, and God supplies it liberally even when He is not thanked or appreciated for His lavish provision, Matthew 5:43-45.

All of these gifts that sooth the pain that also is apart of this world have a purpose. God holds them out so that people will wonder about them appreciate them and want to know the One behind such good things. Yes, they are here for us to enjoy, but they are signposts that say "come to know the One Who created such a vast variety of treasures." Given so that we might find our way to Him Who is not hiding from us. No, instead, each of these lesser gifts points to God's greatest gift. His atoning death on the cross, 1 John 2:1-2. The gift, unlike His other gifts, that must be received by people who know that they need His forgiveness, John 1:11-12.

Sometimes, we who belong to Jesus observe the lives of people who mock and scorn Him. How well they are sometimes doing. We wonder about that at times, just as the psalmist did in Psalm 73. He couldn't make sense of the prosperity of the wicked, and until he looked at life through God's perspective, he was really hurting. He forgot that God was always with him and that eternity would make all things right. Even though these inequities almost tripped him up. It isn't mentioned in that psalm itself, but the author also forgot that God's good gifts show His heart and desire that people would turn from their sin and reach out for Him, Ezekiel 33:11 and long to know the Giver of such undeserved gifts, James 1:17.

We forget that too. When God is displaying His graciousness to someone who, in our eyes, doesn't deserve it, what if we prayed that the Holy Spirit would help that person see the signpost that is pointing to God's love for him, Romans 2:4. That is what Paul was pointing out in Acts 14:16-17 and Acts 17:26-27. God's desire that people might see His wonders, observable to all, and reach out to the One Who is reaching out to them.

Perhaps a story to finish up this writing. A little glimpse of the soothing grace that the Lord held out in answer to a young man's prayer and the soothing grace given to an elderly woman.

A college student told this story that occurred a few years ago. He believed that his relationship with a young lady was very special; so, he went out and bought a huge bouquet of yellow flowers. Unbeknownst to him, at this same time, the young woman was preparing to end the relationship. There he was rejected and looking at all of those flowers. What to do? He decided to pray and ask God what he should do with all of those beautiful blossoms. Give them away was what he thought was the answer to prayer; so he walked the campus and gave them out; however, there was still a small handful left. Then he remembered her. An elderly lady who worked at a nearby waffle house. If she were there, he would give her the remaining flowers. She was there, and he told her that he thought that he was supposed to give her the little bouquet. She began to cry because that particular day was the eighth anniversary of her husband's death, and she hadn't received many flowers in the past eight years. Soothing grace in answer to a young man's prayer concerning what to do with flowers that no longer meant the same thing as they had when he purchased them.

Lord, may Your children be comforted by the soothing grace you give them, and may those who don't yet know You wonder about the lavish gifts they have received. May they reach out for You. The Giver of all grace.