“Grace waits in broken places. . . . Grace seeps through the broken places and seeps into the lowest places, a balm for wounds.”- Ann Voskamp
Ann Voskamp concludes Chapter 14 of The Broken Way by observing that some wounds so twist and form us. In the process, they become much more painful and deeper than scars. Specifically, some wounds become who we actually believe we are.
However, Ms. Voskamp counters, the crossbeam supporting an abundant life in Christ consists of living as one truly loved and cherished by God. Ann explains:
“Belovedness is the center of being, the only real identity, God’s only name for you, the only identity He gives you. And you won’t ever feel like you belong anywhere until . . . you let yourself feel the truth of that — the truth your hear has always known because He who made it wrote your name right here.”
Yet, the serpent tries to make you feel alone and on trial- with you as the chief prosecutor. Satan endlessly poisons you with self-lies. Therefore, Ann posits that until we believe God loves us this minute more than we could ever dream of loving ourselves, we really don’t have enough faith.
In conclusion, Ann describes the role of grace in this process:
“Grace . . . gives us what we’d never ask for but always needed, and moves us to become what we always wanted. But hardly ever the way we wanted (emphasis Ann’s).”
Perhaps, Ann encourages, we need to believe less in ourselves, and what Jesus says about us more. The cross of Jesus can be a weapon in our hands we take into our hearts to break us free. And cut the head off a lying snake.
Today’s question: How has God’s grace waited for you in broken places? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “A personal encounter with the cross”
