We Find Grace When We Don’t Look The Other Way.

I have been thinking about Grace. The relentless grace that makes room for me to keep trying until I get it right. That holds my hand until I get it together. The grace that won’t let me be running when I should be still. Grace that meets me where I am but never leaves me as I am. Grace that is always beyond sufficient.

I am thinking about that grace. I am thinking about the unseen limp I walk around with that causes me to collapse desperately into this endless grace – the broken pieces I clench in my hands that I can only pour out at the Throne of Grace.

 This colourful year began with me seeking to overcome my fears, however on the journey I have been colliding with grace over and over again– because you see, it is grace that unshackles us from the spirit of fear. Understanding that grace is the enabling power of God in us (for us) opens our eyes to see that we really have nothing to fear but everything to hope for – everything to grasp.

Many days, I have trusted my journey and other days I have compared it, but somewhere in between I have learned to surrender. I have learned to colour within God’s lines alone. I have learned that typical expectations don’t speak where a surrendered life is laid down. I have learned that God is giving me the desires that my heart should desire by replacing my expectations for my life with His, according to His will & purpose.

So, 2015 was the year I became more dependent on Grace. When I became deeply grateful for Grace. Because I soon understood that to surrender to God and His way is to feed on His Grace everyday. Is to let Grace open my eyes to see myself as He sees me.

Grace has lifted my head the days it hung low. Grace has been my witness. Grace has spoken for me where and when I was voiceless. Grace pleads my case. Grace is always my lifeline.

Grace is my favour from God.

In the bright days to come in 2016, I intend to be fully present in my days – to trust my journey more, to leap more, to follow His lead with abandon. I expect to trust Him more, believe Him more undoubtedly. And on those stormy days when He bids me to come walk on water with Him and somehow on my way to Him I look the other way, I will still dance when I get to shore because He would have raised my head above water to swim alongside Him instead. Because He is the God who makes a way, anyway.

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30 Days of Gratitude is a month-long series curated by Leading Ladies Africa. It chronicles the unique experiences of different African women, and presents them the opportunity to share their, life-learned lessons, dreams& aspirations, and their hopes for the future.

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Kolapo Olapoju