She joined us today carrying a platter of berry pastries, made in her very own kitchen. She is free today in ways that she wasn’t free a year ago. I could see it: the gifts of spiritual and emotional growth on a platter. Her deliciously simple act of service was evidence of her health.
She lives in a freedom that can only be found in those that have walked through serious tribulation and have felt the rescue of Jesus himself. She knows her Savior and what He has redeemed in a way that some of us are still learning. She has felt the devastation of this fallen world but has been picked up by the Rescuer.
She has surrendered her entire story to the Author of Life because she knows the pain and exhaustion of white knuckling life on her own. In this new freedom, she walks with the most beautiful humility.
She walks humbly indeed. This beautiful friend knows where she has been and is completely surrendered to anywhere He leads.
With wise discernment, she shares her story so that other women can feel welcome and enough. She knows the One who breaks the bondage of shame and so she tells her story again and again with a quiet and reassuring tone. Jesus met her in the darkness. I saw it myself. I watched her cling to Jesus. She speaks up so that others will lay down the shame of hurtful pasts. She wants them to know Who holds the future. She knows what God can do.
In her presence, there is only grace for the journey. The overflow of her humility is contagious grace.
The truth is this: We give grace more freely when we are humble in our own walk with Jesus Christ.
She offers mercy because she is aware of her own fragility. She is honest with her life so that others won’t feel the same shame she once knew. I have never admired her more.
Women have plenty of voices and influences telling them to be more and to only share their most shiny highlights of a life with the world. The pressure to be perfect is very real in the hearts of women who desperately need more grace. People are desperate for grace.
She ushers them into the presence of Jesus and loves them better than she could have loved before. She isn’t afraid of imperfection anymore because her identity is in the One who perfects her.
When we can truly acknowledge the Perfector of our faith and lives, we will stop fearing our own imperfect humanity.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”
~Hebrews 12:1-3
We will love mercy more than appearances. We will choose to walk humbly in place of pride. We will live authentically so that another can lay down her old chains. We will invite her into His way of freedom so that she, too, can live without shame of the past.
We will surrender our entire story to Jesus because we finally see it. We see more clearly on the other side of tribulation. He has been the author of our lives from the very beginning.
Praise God that He is on His throne in the midst of our darkest days.
Where her darkness ends, her true ministry begins. She will love again and again with simple acts of grace. She knows where she has been and she knows the One who leads the way home.
On this side of His mercy, she gives grace. She walks humbly to the end. Jesus illuminates the way.
And she will carry a torch, lighting the way to Jesus so that others can lay their shame down at the cross.
She walks with humility in her journey, knowing that the Author and Perfector of faith will see her journey to completion. The rest of her story is written with abundant grace. May it be so.
From my heart to yours,
~Courtney
I am a pencil in the hand of a writing God, writing a love letter to the world.”
~Mother Theresa
This. Her. I want this to describe me – like it does her – when I have found my freedom. This is my goal. This gives me hope. And they were the exact words I needed to hear tonight.
Kelli, this is my prayer for you. Our freedom comes from Christ alone. May it be. Hugs to you.