Grace

God is grace. He knows how much we can handle, how far we can be stretched and when he needs to wrap his loving arms around us.

If you’ve read my blogs below, you can definitely tell that I’ve had some tough challenges which I’ve had to surmount. These life lessons have been so hard. However, somewhere in the midst of the storm, I reached a peaceful quiet.

In mid June, after I had been in Thailand for 1.5 months, I went to a nearby beach town for a jazz festival with a friend from church. The trip was basically perfect. Our inexpensive hotel was really nice; the weather was bearable (which is synonymous for perfect in Thailand); the town was chill; and the jazz festival itself had a relaxing and soothing effect. After 6 hours of live jazz on the beach, we headed back to our hotel.

Instead of preparing for bed, I decided to go and take a swim in the pool. I floated by myself under the stars, on the opposite end of the globe from home … and I could not have been more content. Despite the challenges, loneliness and ignorance, God had given me grace and I knew that I was in the center of his love.

I’ve come to realize that everything is not supposed to be perfect and easy when we’re following God’s will. On the contrary, it’s usually difficult and nearly unbearable. However, there’s this indescribable perfect grace and love that guides and fills us amidst such circumstances.

So as I floated on my back, I told God again that he can do whatever he wants with my life, because I was confident that it would be so much better if he was in control. I understood that I had just surrendered my will and comfort, and that millions of challenges and tears were awaiting me. But I also understood that perfect gold comes out of the fire, that there’s a calm after a storm and that grace is granted amidst challenges.