How often has grace surrounded you and you haven’t noticed it because you were concentrating on the problems in your life?

Sometimes God shoots grace our way when we least expect it and we don’t even recognize it.

We should, of course.

But we get so entrenched in the problems, we don’t see the small sliver of relief when it comes. It’s kind of like an experience I had with a dear friend the other day. She had suffered some significant losses over the last few years and depression had set in. She finally consented to short-term medication.

After having been on it for about three weeks, I could tell she was getting better by observing almost imperceptible changes in her behavior. But I had to point it out to her. She didn’t see it herself.  She was focusing on her depression. She didn’t see the little ray of sunshine peeking through, but I did.

God used me to point her to the grace that was already present in her life. She just hadn’t seen it. Sometimes other people see God working in our lives before we do.

(This next part was written in 2013. It’s hard for me to read it because it reminds me how much I miss my mom. Reading these next few paragraphs is bittersweet.)

“I took my mom to the ophthalmologist yesterday. She suffered a fall six months ago, experienced severe vertigo, serious depression, and a host of other things and has only been out of the house in the last six months for various doctor’s appointments and a couple of visits to family. Afterward, we went grocery shopping and out to lunch. We were out for over four hours.  That would have been a record even before she fell.

So today I’m feeling all warm inside as I reflect on our time together, on having had my mom “back” for even the briefest of time. I know tomorrow might be a different story but I am encouraged that this might be the beginning of having her regain much of what she’s lost. even the contrariness and stubbornness which will drive me nuts but which I will gladly embrace.”

Grace gives us hope for tomorrow and breathing space for today.

So today I’m so thankful for the four-hour grace period that was gifted me yesterday.

Thank you, God, for the unexpected gift of grace.”

So if depression is gaining a foothold in your life today, look for those grace moments. I can promise you they are there. I can promise that because God promises that.

He says over and over again that He will never leave us or forsake us, that when grace is most needed it will be there. Just don’t miss it because sometimes it’s very “quiet” and unobtrusive.

God’s grace often shows up in the smallest of ways, a smile, an unexpected remark, a phone call, a text, the sun peeking through the clouds when you need it, a moment of quiet, a laugh, you get the idea.

Don’t be so preoccupied with your struggles you overlook the small graces that come your way.

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