What Is Grace? Here Is How It Applies to You!
- noah strout
- Feb 10
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 18
For the longest time, whenever I would make a mistake. I would say, "Give me grace." Yet that's not the right term to use. What younger me and others mean to say is, give me mercy. Mercy is giving someone a second chance, not giving up on them. Going even deeper, the Hebrew word for mercy is called 'chesed,' which means being steadfast and loyal. While the Greek equivalent is 'eleos', which means pity, yet having compassion for someone. Mercy is what should be asked of the person you have wronged, and then, if you can ask for grace from them. But truly, the best and only grace you need is from God. Yet this leaves the question of what is grace? Why does God talk about grace as a gift and talk about its wonders?
Ephesians 2:8-9; "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Read closely. For by grace you are saved through faith. So grace is so important that it takes grace with faith in Christ to be saved. Not only this, but it's not your doing, and both are a gift from God! You may be thinking, "Noah, I get why Grace is so awesome, but what is it still?" Grace is many things, but the definition I have learned that explains God's grace the best is this.
"Grace is Christ's empowering presence [His power] given to you for you to change."
This is why, in a previous letter from the Apostle Paul, he states that he even boasts about his weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through him. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, this is where grace is shown to be so important and powerful!
"Even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times, I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time, He said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
In every translation, God never told Paul no, just that "My grace is sufficient enough for you." “My power is all you need,” which created even more trust in Christ for the Apostle Paul. This also proves even more that thorns don't stay. If the Bible is 100% true, then we can't believe there are coincidences in it. For it is written that you are no longer a slave to sin and that whom the Son sets free is free indeed, so thorns can’t stay. What happens to thorns, they fade and disappear. Yet sometimes thorns can stay in your flesh, if you don't get some pliers (God's Grace) to pull them out!
Hallelujah, for God is so good that He gives you His own power to take it away! This is why Paul rejoices in suffering, not just so he can follow Christ’s example, but so that He can witness God's glory being made manifest!
Romans 5:1-5; Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
It may feel like that thorn isn't going to leave, rather it's the devil, sin, and/or pain. But God is bigger than all of it, and His timing is perfect to help teach us lessons in the midst of suffering. So if even a mustard seed of faith can move a mountain (Matthew 17:20), then that's all the faith you need to overcome any struggle, no matter what it is.
I pray this blesses you in understanding the true awesomeness of God's Grace and to know how to apply it in your life. A practical way of understanding grace more is to replace the word grace in verses with 'Christ's empowering presence/strength given to you.’ This will help you understand the context of the verses even more as well. If you need help learning how to rely on Christ's grace, declare the scripture and dwell on it. Focus on the goodness of God and remember to SHUTUP, HANGON, and never give up!
Isaiah 41:10; "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
This is why we created and call this tee the "Graffiti 'Grit & Grace' Tee." Because you always need God's grace to have the grit, the perseverance to walk through whatever challenges you face.
- Noah
