grace Archives - Simply Gathering Grace

Living with depression…A LESSON IN WILDFLOWERS AND GRACE

May 15, 2017 By Mikki Jo 4 Comments

I saw a small clump of lavender and pink in a ditch line. A rusted barbed wire fence was their backdrop. They were framed by a drive-by beer can and a faded McDonald’s cup. That scene taught me something that day.

WILDFLOWERS AND GRACE, oh my.

Those wildflowers held so much beauty. So much so, that the ugly around them kind of slinked into the background and the wildflowers were all I saw. Brilliant colors that only God could paint, and intricate blooms that only God could create. They had burst out of the ground and bloomed even with all the yuck they were surrounded by.

Depression, it’s real. It can be a lonely place. That’s why we have to seek out the beauty. It’s those things that bring us peace. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy– meditate on these things. (NKJV)

Depression no longer defines me but I do believe it’s the thorn in my side. Paul talks about the thorn in his side in 2 Corinthians. He’d asked three times for the Lord to take it from him. And Paul tells us what He said in 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NKJV)

I’ve learned that when I open my heart to Jesus and His grace I can easily coexist with the ugly stuff. He shows me the simple things that I used to take for granted. His grace leads me to a place of peace and He points out all the good stuff along the way. I can see a leaf floating down from the sky and my heart writes a poem before it reaches the ground. (rolling my eyes, because I can’t believe I just admitted that) Yes, I’m mushy like that. I love having coffee with Jesus and just listening to Him.

Go for a walk and enjoy a sunset. Learn a new hobbie. Help others in need. Seek out things of beauty in nature, God really does bring us peace through His creation.

Seek God in the midst of the heaviness. Some days are harder than others, but He gives us strength. 1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
Always remember we have hope! Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
It won’t last forever! Psalms 30:5b Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Always praise Him. Psalm 86:12-13 I will praise You, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever. 13 For great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.

Depression. It keeps me leaning on Jesus. And His grace is sufficient.

I want to be like a wildflower and keep growing even among the ugly, so I’ll glory in my infirmities, in my depression, my craziness, and my quirkiness. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Because His GRACE is sufficient.

GROWING IN A PLACE OF GRACE

September 30, 2015 By Mikki Jo 18 Comments

I stood by the side of the road, covered in dust. I hear gravel popping under the tires of a car in the distance, slowly coming my way. The car pulled up under the big oak tree, I see a young woman and she gets out of the car and begins taking pictures. I can hear her exclaiming, “How beautiful!” That was when I realized she was taking pictures of me. I stood up tall and straight.

She went on her way, and when she got home she sat down and wrote this story.

“Driving down an old country road I look over at the edge of the ditch line and see a cluster of wildflowers. I couldn’t help but stop and take a few pictures. The little things not knowing that they are in a lowly place, a ditch line of all places. They stand there, proudly displaying their bright lavender attire. Never to share the stage with a famous rosebush, or even a hanging basket of petunias. They don’t complain, they stand there boldly, among the crushed beer cans and faded paper cup. Their backdrop not that of a two story brick home like the rosebush has, but an old rusty fence. But still, they don’t whine, they just blossom right where they’re at. Sharing radiant beauty, in a dusty old ditch line. Lord, wherever you place me, help me to blossom. And help me to do so without complaint.”

You see, God wants us to stand up for Him and let His glory shine in a dark place. No place is too far for Him to reach. Every space can become a place of grace. He will send us to a place that needs Him. I’m a wildflower, I am only a glimpse of the glory of God on a dusty old country road under a tall oak. I stand in the ditch, where His grace was needed. Today God used me to speak to a young woman, to let her know it’s okay to blossom and grow where ever God places her. He has a purpose for you too, let the world see Jesus in you. His grace is needed wherever He sends you.

Yes, I am that young woman. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart that day I stopped on the side of the road. I pray I will always be willing to go where God sends me, and be ready to lead a heart to Jesus.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

When Trusting God Isn’t Enough

September 22, 2015 By Mikki Jo 15 Comments

I was running down the hill with my arms spread wide, the tall grass brushing softly against my arms. I looked toward the sky with my eyes squinted, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my face. I didn’t have a care in the world, my little nine year old self was savoring the sweet smell of Autumn. At least I was, until I took one wrong step.

I fell to the ground in a heap, cradling my foot. I had stepped on a nail and it was buried pretty darn deep. My Daddy came running and I knew he was there to help me. My head rolled back, my mouth wide open, my eyes tightly closed so I couldn’t see, I was screaming like a wild child. I trusted him, I knew he was going to take care of me.

My Daddy grabbed the nail and yanked it out of my foot! I was angry that he pulled the nail out, because boy did it hurt! I don’t know what I expected him to do. I knew he could handle the situation. He just didn’t do it the way I wanted him to. But what did I know, I was only a kid. And we both knew I couldn’t walk around with that nail hanging out of my foot like it was a piece of jewelry.

When we pray and seek God, do we really believe He knows best? I told my sister the other day, “I trust God to take care of it, I’m just scared He won’t take care of it the way I want Him to.” Today I said to myself, “Self, who do you think you are!” Of course the Lord knows better than I do how to take care of a situation. He is working things out even as I write this. But do I fully trust Him? Yes I do. Do I think He’ll answer my prayers the way I want Him to? I don’t know. This is where I fall apart, where I need grace. But I do know He is faithful!

1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV God, who has called you into fellowship with His son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

I’m learning to believe that He really does know best. Today let’s confess our areas of weakness and failure to Christ, and rest in His promises. Let’s give Him those areas where we need His grace to cover our failures. He is faithful, His grace is sufficient. He loves us.

Ephesians 1:7 NIV In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

Let’s believe God together!