grace given me

On Sunday I bid my son bon voyage as he headed to Florida for his summer internship. It’s a great opportunity, and we are excited for him, but our one week of having him home felt too short. As he walked toward the airport terminal, I was overwhelmed with sadness. I found myself longing for the days when I had both of my kids at home. I missed the days when I could take their presence for granted. Yes, those days were crazy busy with school and sports schedules, and the house was messier, and noisier with kids always coming in and out. But it was also fun and joyous and fulfilling. 

Around me I have friends and family wrestling with different kinds of sorrows – health battles, the loss of loved ones, setbacks at work, painful disruptions in relationships. It got me thinking about what a gift, a luxury really, when we are able to take things for granted. Good health, having loved ones around, strong marriages, an honorable boss, loving friendships – when we have those things, we seem to be able to take life in stride. Experience a blow in one of those areas and it gets you contemplating the big things in life. We often talk about taking things for granted as a flaw. And yes, it can be. But lately I’ve started seeing it as a luxury – one we often don’t recognize until it’s gone.

To take something for granted means it’s so steady, so secure, so woven into the fabric of our lives that we forget to question its presence. And that’s where I see God. What a luxury, what an incredible gift we have in being able to take God’s presence for granted. Not that we should—but that He is so unfailing, so steady, so constant. Hebrews 13: 8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” His presence doesn’t flicker in and out. He doesn’t leave when we forget to pray, or waver when we fall short. He stays. He fortifies us with words like those from Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified… for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” He is always near. Psalm 139:7-10 comforts us, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there… even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” 

Not because we have earned it or deserve it. But because he is faithful. Lamentations 3:22–23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” I have personally adopted the mantra: I’m standing on your faithfulness. It’s a strange and sacred truth, that sometimes we realize how much we’ve been held only when the world around us begins to shake. In sorrow or disruption, we look back and see just how near he was the whole time. 

What if we didn’t wait for loss to awaken us to his nearness? Think of the shift that could happen if we stepped into the presence of acknowledging it more – with gratitude. Gratitude for the kind of God who stays. For the peace that covers us without fanfare. For mercies so consistent, we’ve nearly stopped noticing them. We can offer our gratitude. Let us thank him not only for the miracles, but for the mundane. To notice what we used to overlook. To see the hand of a faithful God in the quiet stability we didn’t earn, but were graciously given. As James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” The presence of pain doesn’t mean God has left. Sometimes it’s what helps us see just how near he has always been.

Lord, you are always good and you are always present. You never leave nor forsake us. Thank you that, no matter what storms may come, I can always count on you. You are an unwavering rock. Please forgive me for the times I have taken you for granted. Please forgive me for when I have overlooked the gift of your Son. For when I have taken for granted the gift you have given in your Holy Spirit. Today, I choose gratitude. I praise you because you are so worthy of it all. Amen.