That’s The Beauty of Grace: Recent Episodes
Melissa Murray
A reminder that where there were ashes, in your life, in your pain, in your story, there will always be beauty. Shared from the lens of someone who has survived much, and relishes the retelling of it, if only to give hope to one.
…Elisha says, “let her alone for her soul is vexed within her; and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me” Oh yes, that emotion that she keeps tightly leashed is beginning to release itself. Who can blame her? She then looks to Elisha and says, didn’t I ask you not to deceive me? Ooooo mama is hot now. She is in that state we get into sometimes, when we think someone is playing games with us. How dare you give me a son only to take him away from me? To give me the joy of being his mother for just a few years? Cruel. The undertone of her message, “what kind of God are you?” “what kind of man of God are you?”
What is so poignant about this to me, is that when I have been searching for Him, and feeling so lost in a desert; partially of my own making, out of my own sin, I have inquired of God, "WHERE ARE YOU?" (Yes, in all caps)... growing angry, feeling hurt because I felt let down by the only one I trusted to stay with me; He leads me here. To a book I don't recall ever reading once in the over 30+ years of serving Jesus. He leads me to a Chapter Titled "God Pleads", a chapter I read, was moved by, and then wanted to get more context so it pulled me in to the 1st part of the book and I once I got to Chapter 5, and halted over the understanding that even after informing the people that Jesus was coming to be their salvation; the calvary I have looked for, He still pleaded with the people.
I want to throw my hands up and say, “it’s not fair!” “This game of life is rigged against me”… and I was reminded- the game of life IS rigged against me. I live in a fallen world, just like you. I live in the enemies domain, and I can only survive, I can only live, I can only thrive with the goodness of God invading my life. With faith, with believing He sees me, and He knows me, and He has a plan for me.