God's Grace Covers Me

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of GRACE, that we may receive mercy and find Grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

My blog is about my journey of brokenness and blessings. It is about finding treasures in the darkness. It is about growing in my faith when it is hard and the darkness wants to consume me. It is about my hope in God and finding him faithful and learning to praise him in the good times and the hard times. 

Yes, my journey has been and is of brokenness and blessings, I have found treasures in the darkness and I have been surprised by Grace and my life has never been the same. In times of brokenness, I began seeking God in a new way and He began to show me what I would call treasures in the darkness. God's word became a wonderful place of healing and a source of strength for me.  God began to whisper into my heart " Be still and know that I am God. I began to listen to His voice and I began to recognize it. Verse after verse would begin to flood my soul like torrential rain. In Deuteronomy 32:2 it says: "Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, life showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants" That's what God's word began to do in me. 

As God began healing my brokenness, I realized that the pain would never go away, but that God would instead use the pain in a new way in my life. As I have begun to move through the difficulties and the ashes of these past few months, I realized that I had been surprised by Grace. I had found treasures in the darkness. In Isaiah 45:2 says: "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name" I began to hear His voice above the sounds of the storm calling my name. The promises of God would take my brokenness and show me blessings!! 

God was also showing me His Grace in many new ways. It seemed as though God was offering me a gift and this gift would be new eyes to see, a new heart to love, a new mind to understand. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and He saves those who are crushed in spirit. Yes, that was me....broken and crushed! I am learning that He uses my pain, trials, suffering, brokenness-whatever you want to call it, to invite me to experience his Grace.  He wants us to tell our stories. He is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for transparency, having an open heart to let Him move in. He wants our raw, broken, but yet gutsy and bold stories. You see, we all have a story, God is writing stories in each of our hearts. He is writing a story in me. Each time, I wonder exactly what He wants me to learn and do with it, but I am excited more than ever that He is always up to something good! I am being surprised by Grace each and every day and that is a good thing because: The Lord, My God is with me, He is mighty to save. He delights in me, He quiets me with His love, He rejoices over me with singing ~ Zephaniah 3:17.

In Conclusion: I have come to full understanding that God does not waste my pain, but I am not a bit surprised by that, because it becomes a blessing. Blessings that I never looked for. I have had many opportunities to share my story lately of my journey of brokenness and blessings to so many women that God has put in my path, it seems to spill out of me what I least expect it. So, that is the gift, the treasure and the blessing " The Grace of God" 

Grace..... by Laura Story

Written by Maribel Castillo

August 3, 2013 

Inspired by Isaiah 45:2