A Life-Altering Encounter

I know I've shared this story before but felt compelled to share my life-altering encounter with God's grace. It happened in the most unlikely of places...a bar.


I had just finished Bible College as my seven year marriage came to an end. The denomination I was affiliated with didn't allow a divorced person to be credentialed with them, regardless of the reason for the divorce. Realizing all I had been working towards (a life as a minister) was crashing in around me, I began making horrible decisions. One bad decision after another left me stranded, sitting at the edge of a bar, with the intent to drink away the darkness pressing in around me. Until God showed up!

He lovingly filled my mind with this thought, "Julie, there is no where you can run that my grace won't find you still."

Friend, I share this simple story to remind you that YOU ARE LOVED! Yes, you! Right where you are! Flaws and all! Amidst all your mistakes God is lovingly calling you to turn to Him. In Romans 8:34-39, Paul writes: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NIV)

Also, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! No matter your circumstances, disappointments, heartaches, bad decisions, or feelings of abandonment...GOD IS NEAR! Deuteronomy 31:5-6, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (NIV) Jeremiah 31:3 declares God's heart, saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." (NIV)

The revelation of God's love requires a decision. For me, I left the edge of the bar forever changed. For the first time in my life I really grasped that it wasn't about my righteousness it was about God's grace. His love demanded all of my life...one that I freely offer Him.

How about you? Is there anything keeping you from living in a right relationship? Anything stealing your joy? Anything you've allowed your hope to rest in other than God's grace?

My prayer for you today is that the love of God will permeate your every though and invade your circumstances with the evidence of his unending and passionate love!

I encourage you...Take a few moments today to simply listen. Ask God to speak. Search for His words from His Word (the Bible.)