I recall an occasion where God expressed His grace to me in the most emotionally and mentally outrageous way possible.
The sector that I work in is training, primarily training in the Welfare to Work area. So the role I play is being a tutor/facilitator for people who have been out of work for over six months. Some of those I teach have been unemployed for the best part of two years.
There was an occasion when I was given a brand new course to deliver – in less than ideal circumstances. (That phrase is an invitation to ‘read between the lines’.)
Imagine the scene, then, 10 people, at varying stages of being out of work, frustrated and cynical at the attempts to support them in their jobsearch. Some full of resentment, most lacking in hope, obliged to attend this new course of which they have been informed little, with a tutor who likewise has been informed little of the course they are about to endure.
That is a recipe for trouble.
The story should then go on to show how God empowered me to dazzle the learners and transform them from despondent hopeless people into fully energised and motivated job-seekers making breakthroughs left, right and centre.
This is not that story.
When I read about stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, that was somewhat akin to what I witnessed. Giving them the space to vent and share, God, by His grace, turned the hearts of these learners to each other and to the course. Rather than being bitter and dismissive, they discovered qualities and abilities in the others that enabled the sessions to be not just endurable, but enjoyable. These were productive times that the class themselves took ownership of and it lead to amazing moments of clarity and revelation for these people about their capabilities.
A group that had come in full of trepidation, blossomed into a co-operative, mutually supportive team that enjoyed each other’s company, looked forward to the sessions and were seeing glimmers of hope in their situation.
Meanwhile, I did get to grips with elements of what the course was about, and was able to do that because the group displayed an amazing level of patience and grace to my situation.
To see God at work in such a way did not give me more faith in humanity. It increased my faith in the potential of humanity in the light of the grace of God. These people were not ‘religious’ and I never gave a gospel presentation with an altar call and an opportunity to recite the Sinner’s Prayer. I know, however, that the experience those 10 people shared for those three weeks was something that could have only happened by His grace.
It left me humbled to have witnessed His love in action for these people, and it encourages me to ever seek to witness these episodes in the lives of those who may have lost hope, or never realised how blessed they are of God.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 