He Knew. He Planned. He Created. He Gave Grace.
It’s easy, even for Christians, to read the Bible & forget this very important fact—God created us… knowing we would reject Him… knowing we could never measure up to what He requires of us… knowing He would have to set a plan in motion to save us Himself, through Jesus… And He still created us.
… Because He loves us that much.
We Can Miss Out, But We Can’t Ruin God’s Plan
You see, it’s easy for us to interpret the Bible in a way that says, “Oh you dumb, rebellious humans, you went & messed up everything & now God is so mad at you that He had to send Jesus to fix everything.”
Now, don’t get me wrong, we are often compared to sheep for the very reason that we can quite certainly be pretty dense in missing the fullness of the love & power & deserving of reverence & awe that God is….
AND, we all are rebellious & definitely have a choice to either obey or rebel, in which if we’re completely honest with ourselves, we quite often rebel (because how many of us can say that we are completely & totally trusting of & in surrender to God’s will & way one hundred percent of the time? I know I certainly can’t claim that!)
But even though we are dense & rebellious in nature, we cannot “mess up” God’s plan.
He Knew
He knew, before time began, that He would need to make a way to pay our debts for us, so that we could be provided a way to come running back to His loving arms, wiped completely clean of the wrongs that separate(d) us from His glory & complete holiness.
You see, we could never blindside God. We can’t catch Him off-guard. We can’t surprise Him.
He already knew.
And He already provided a plan & a way back to Himself—through Jesus’ sacrifice for our wrongs. (Read about how I fell to the feet of God & allowed Jesus’ sacrifice to heal me & how He can heal you just as well, on my “Hope Is Found” page on this website.)
Not Shame, But PRAISE!
So, the next time you are feeling the shame &/or guilt pile up on your shoulders, turn those torments into praise!
Thank our wonderful Father God who made a way back to grace possible.
Thank Him for His love & patience & gift of grace.
Thank Him that although we are completely & utterly undeserving, He still offers us His grace so willingly & so lovingly, if we just trust in Him enough to accept it!
He paid the price, knowing we could never make it right on our own.
His Power & Grace Makes Us Whole!
We owe Him our all & yet, all He asks is for us to trust Him enough to love Him back.
He accepts us as is.
He knows our flaws & sin & rebellion, & yet His hand is ever-outstretched, waiting for you to take hold & be whisked into His embrace.
He shapes us & molds us as we give Him more of our trust.
Judgment Day Will Come, But Grace Is Offered Now
Judgment day will come, but right now, we all have equal opportunity for grace, no matter our degree of “unworthiness”.
Because it’s about Him being so great that He can cover anything & everything if we but surrender ourselves to live in His love.
He lifts us up.
He makes a way.
Let Him make a way for you.
I love you, Beautiful! And so does He!
Shine Hope, because the world needs it desperately–& yes, I speak from personal experience!
*HUUUUUG*
Coming Next Week
Check back with me next week, on Monday, for some more regularly scheduled encouragement & show me some love by joining my tribe, by leaving your email in the popup at the top of your screen! Or send your email address to me @ michelle@michellehydeonline.com, if you would like me to add you!
A Note from Michelle:
If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Weekly Special Spotlight:
Each week, I will feature an item that is changing lives. These pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Sea Glass Necklace
Artisans recreate the look & feel of sea glass by upcycling glass bottles from local hotels & restaurants that would otherwise be discarded, & tumble the broken glass with water & sand from the Red Sea until it is smooth & resembles the beautiful pieces once commonly found on their beaches. Sizes & colors may vary.
Artisan Information:
Many Jordanian women have their lives controlled by their closest male relative. They balance many customs at home, creating a lack of independence. Some of these women are divorced, widowed, or married to a man who may already have many wives. But amid struggles, these women we work with arrive to a family-like workplace. They can be seen & heard singing, laughing, & drinking tea while creating our unique jewelry made from upcycled glass bottles. Your purchase empowers them with bold confidence & financial independence for the first time!
Purchase this piece & empower a woman in Jordan!
Shop Here, OR, Email me at michelle@michellehydeonline.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
