Grace 'n Grounds

There’s many a lesson among those letters in red. Many decisions He calls us to make among the confusing stories He tells. 

In Matthew 5:15-16, Jesus shares with us the importance of not hiding:

No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Our hiding has a purpose for us. For our very human experiences. We hide because of fear. We hide because…well, isn’t it all rooted in that? Fear? Fear of criticism. Fear we will not be accepted. Fear we will be misunderstood. Fear we will fail. Not live up to the expectation from ourselves. Others. We hide this glorious light under a huge basket of fear of what others will think. 

For several years, I’ve done the same. I told myself I was disengaging from social media because it was “toxic.” Not good for me. Took too much of my time. And yes-it does/is those things. But so is Netflix. So is endless hours of crocheting. So is hiding in a book. They all result in one thing-hiding His light under a basket. 

Why did I find it easier to hide? To not tackle the fear head on? 

To squelch the voices that wanted me focused on numbers, likes and follows. If I didn’t post, I couldn’t be concerned with these things.

This focus, in turn, creates comparison and envy; something I am constantly battling against. Removing myself from it, I thought, would squelch this. It just turned outwards to actual people I began comparing myself to in real life.

It has greatly impacted my own creative processes, because what used to be a source of shining light, I hid. I haven’t written in probably three years. Aside from sermon writing, I don’t remember the last time I simply wrote what God had shown me in living this everyday life. 

In an effort to silence the noise of the world, and my head in general…I’ve silenced my voice altogether. 

In the 4th Chapter of Esther, the author warns about the danger of remaining silent. Mordecai urges Esther to be bold. Speak up. The people she loves and from whom she came are at risk.

“If you keep silent at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

It is tempting to retreat. At times, yes-even peaceful. In some ways, retreat has been good. It has created balance, rest, and restoration that have been much needed.

However, retreat has also created a stirring that has been present for a time. In contrast, I am very restless. There’s a bubbling tension under the surface that simmers. A need to let the “light” out. A constant nagging for “more.” 

The “more” I believed was God telling me to do more, serve more, be more…and yes, that is partly true. But really…it was about Him. More of Him. More people to know Him. More courage to speak. More light in the darkness. 

It’s time. 

Time to stop retreating and calling it rest.

To move from reluctance and fear, towards action and faith.

Time to stop hiding under a basket.

The light will shine in the darkness 

You’ll see more of this. 

More messages of His grace. 

More thoughts grounded in Scripture. Less hiding and more of Him.

More light. His light. 

Welcome to Grace and Grounds. May we journey together to be bold-and most importantly graceful in sharing the One who grounds us.