We can't wrap this up

There is one aspect of faith that is really hard to wrap my mind around.  

God's grace, his free unmerited, gift of favor and love.  God's grace processes our faith.

I sat there probably with my mouth agape, tears welling up.  The pastor surprised me with his explanation of living out God's will according to God's grace.  I had never thought about it quite that way.  When seeking God's will in our lives, doesn't a little pat in the wisdom and grace department make our faith more real and alive?  

At least it does for me. 

God has been showing me grace in my days and my dreams.  And along the way I have had an intense desire to know God in such a deeper way.  This desire is burning a hole in my heart.  Oops..my hunger is showing.  

We need God's grace to process our faith.

God's grace opens doors and shuts them.  God's grace goes before us and surrounds us.  It guards our hearts.  His love protects us and keeps our hearts sealed by faith.  God's grace helps us trust and gives us a desire to know God more.

God's grace isn't just given at the time of salvation, it's there for us daily, when we need it most.  His grace shows us His will on how to live, and how to respond in obedience.  It teaches us and disciples us.  It heals us from our past and motivates us forward in our life of faith, and a faith like this pleases God.

God's grace moves us to action to show others grace and kindness.  Grace gives and bears fruit and grows roots in our knowledge of who God is.    

God's grace is hard to wrap your mind around when you put it all together.  Now apply that to your dreams.  

But why should you care about this too?

Because...grace and hope dispel disappointment.  When things, days, details and dreams don't work out like we planned them in our minds, disappointment taps us on the shoulder and reminds us of the Deceiver's lie he wants us to swallow hard.  

He hisses..."I told you God wouldn't come through, you prayed, you did all the right things, you waited, you trusted God with your secrets, you wished and I even saw you shed a few tears in wanting it so much."  

But did God really say that?

No but a deflated dream would.  That falls hard on our faith when disappointment knocks.

But God is the God of hope.  So if you feel disappointed today about whatever and whoever, please know that is not what God wants.  If something didn't work out like you asked God for, it just means there is a purpose for His answers.  And His answers never disappoint.  

People do, but God doesn't.

Romans 5:5  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

There is one thing that God can't do for us, and that is contradict His own character.  Disappointment would be a contradiction of His love, grace, and hope.  God doesn't ditch appointments regarding giving His sons and daughters what they need for them to grow closer to Him.  

God gives us the Holy Spirit to know God's love and grace.  He listens to our hopes, our dreams, knows our thoughts and our prayers.  God has the kind of love for us that expects nothing in return, unlike human love that judges and measures love.  God's agape love denotes an undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable goodwill that always seeks the highest good of the other person no matter what he does.  It is the self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return and does not consider the worth of it object.

What kind of love is this?  What kind of God would love us in this manner? 

One who gives grace instead of dishing up disappointments.  Our Perfect God.