Expecting God's Grace by Lisa Shoemaker

The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.

Isaiah 12:2

In this passage, Israel is looking very hopefully to the future, a time when God’s amazing grace will ease their fears and rescue the Israelites from captivity, wars, and God’s anger. They are praising God for his grace.

Even though the Christmas season is situated for our day and culture at the end of our calendar years, it is always celebrated as a time of hope in the future rather than a time of reflection on the past. We all want a refresh—better health, better finances, better relationships, etc. The Israelites are ready to give God praise because they are expecting his grace to give them something better. He is great, and he is holy; he can deliver.

Jim and I are members of Milton Horne’s book study group, meeting via Zoom on Sunday mornings. At the time of this writing, we are collectively reading R. Kirby Godsey’s “When We Talk about God ... Let’s Be Honest” (Mercer, 2006). One chapter in that book is titled “Amazing Grace,” in which Godsey tries to unscramble our misguided attempts to “explain the mechanics of salvation” (140), and in doing so, we miss the “endearing hope of grace ... that God believes in us” (148). I’ve been studying what the prophets, Paul and even Jesus, have said about grace, salvation, and atonement. I think I’ve been making it all too complicated and theoretical, basically getting it wrong.

My hope, and perhaps yours as well, is that a new look at God’s grace will inject this holiday season and the new year to come with hope and a sense of calm (and who among us doesn’t need this amidst all the political rancor blasting our consciences?).

I leave you with Godsey’s words about God’s grace:

“So, the word of grace, amazing grace, is that God is not far away from us. God is not hidden behind the walls of temples and synagogues. God is not hidden away in cathedrals and churches. God is here with us—in the kitchen, in the boardroom, at the teller’s window, at the corner grocery. We can meet God in the eyes of our friends—and our enemies ... Grace means that God is here with us. God receives us and accepts us as we are—no conditions, no plans of salvation to figure out, no doctrines to adopt. The call to salvation is the call to hear the simple call of grace. Be at peace; God is by our side.” (148)

God’s grace and peace to you this season especially.

LISA SHOEMAKER