Debbie and I met in college. Her journalism studies and my elementary education classes didn’t overlap, but we often saw each other in the library or at chapel. I admired her faithfulness and was inspired by her smile.
At a university, we learn many things that aren’t in the syllabus. Learning to prioritize is a skill I’m still developing.
Just as one college class ended, I remembered what the professor of the next class promised. We would have a quiz during our next class. Dread crept into my mind because I hadn’t studied.
If I skipped chapel, I had half an hour to study.
At our university, it wasn’t required that any of us go to chapel. No classes were scheduled from 11:00 – 11:30 so we could go if we chose to. That glorious half-hour was called Spirit Break. Many people used it to fit lunch between classes. I didn’t really want to miss chapel, even if I hadn’t studied for the quiz. At the same time, it would only be one chapel, and my grades could certainly be impacted by a quiz. What was best? What was the higher priority?
It would have been so much easier to go down the hall to study, but I dragged my stuff to the chapel. I’m sure we read Scripture, sang praises to the Lord, and heard someone speak. I don’t remember the details. Dashing to my class I took a seat and started studying. About ten minutes later, I was still alone in the room. Class had been canceled!
I was overwhelmed. That was a precious moment of grace.
It doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes we try to put God first, and the other things in life don’t suddenly line up perfectly.
It was me who failed to study. I didn’t deserve to do well on the quiz, and cramming would have been only a temporary fix for a bigger problem.
Instead of receiving what I deserved, I received grace. I don’t remember what we learned in chapel that day, but I know God spoke to me. When I made time for God, He multiplied it for me.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-11 (NIV) says, “What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
Questions to Ponder:
If you are a believer, where have you seen God’s grace in your life in addition to your salvation?
Who can you tell your story of grace received to, and when will you do so?
A Prayer:
Dear God, Thank You for the way you order the universe. You have chosen to give me grace in more ways than I can imagine. Thank You for Who You are! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Featured Image: Clifty Falls State Park, Madison, Indiana. Photographed by Jyll Stuart
Today’s post was written by Becky Lane. You can read more about Becky and her journey on our Guest Author page.