The Grace to Stand

Today's tragedy in Omaha (see http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22116784/ if you're unfamiliar) reminds me of the grace that we need every day.

Just today my husband and I were praising God for blessings in our lives, just this week. On his list was the greatest miracle of all, "kept by His grace". Oh, yes. Paul wrote, "By HIS doing you are in Christ Jesus..." (1 Cor. 1:30). How thankful I am that we are saved by grace, kept by grace, and walk in grace. Grace is quite literally the air we breathe as believers. And on days like today, I really have to rely on His grace to stand, to face the hard truths of life.

The reality is, thousands of people die senselessly around the world daily. Land mines, starvation, AIDS, cancer ... the list goes on and on. Events like Omaha startle us, but often for the wrong reason: we think they are the exception to a pretty peaceful life, when in reality they should startle us into realizing the suffering that is in the world, and the need for loving action on our part and spiritual transformation by God on His part.

In your work you really have a greater grasp of that than we do, sheltered as we are from reality. But all of us - whether grieving over Omaha or a far corner of the globe - can take refuge in the promise of God to this groaning world:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Rom. 8:18-25