Moments of Grit Create Memories of Grace

Over the past few weeks the word “Grit” has kept popping up…and it’s caused me to pause and think a bit about it.

Though the Bible doesn’t use the specific word “Grit” …there are a few terms that the Bible uses instead. Words like…

• Steadfastness
• Endurance
• Long Suffering
• Forbearance

…These are Biblical synonyms for grit.

There’s no denying that grit is all throughout scripture…In fact, check out some of these gritty characters…

• Moses – guided a whiny and ungrateful people though a desert wilderness for 40 years without resigning
• Esther – defied customs and politics and barged into the king’s chambers to advocate for her people, famously declaring, “If I perish, I perish.”
• Abraham – persistently sought God even when God didn’t deliver on his promises for 100 years
• Deborah – defied gender norms and led 10,000 troops to conquer Israel’s oppressors
• Noah – spent 55 years building an ark to prepare for a rainstorm that had never happened before in history
• Paul – was shipwrecked 3 times, pelted with stones, beaten with rods, ran out of food, and lived in fear of assassination

…Those are some gritty guys and gals.

As I reflected on these characters lives and spent some time thinking about different chapters in my own life where I’ve needed grit, I realized that in different seasons growing my grit has meant TWO different things…

Some seasons of my life God has said – I’ve put you where you are for a reason. And even though everyone else is quitting, moving, leaving – You need to have some GRIT and stay where I planted you.

Sometimes Grit means staying where you’re planted. Digging in your heals and refusing to budge

But there’s been other seasons where God has given me a vision or a calling to something new, and God has said – even though where you are is good and comfortable and safe – You need to have some GRIT and move towards a new challenge even though there’s some obstacles and it feels a lot scarier.

Sometimes GRIT means pursuing something different. Putting the pedal to the metal and running towards a goal no matter the resistance.

See sometimes staying planted takes grit. And sometimes uprooting takes grit.

In different seasons of our lives, grit plays out differently.

But over the years, here’s what I’ve learned….In the hands of God, moments of grit create memories of grace.

When we hang in there; when we have GRIT – we eventually get to the other side, look back and see the purpose of the challenge. We come to see God’s grace was present even in all those gritty details. Time and time again I’ve discovered that God is a master recycler who takes challenges and pain and redeems them for our good.

See if we hang in there and come out the other side – those moments of grit will create memories of God’s grace.

I don’t know what you’re facing or where you’re needing GRIT right now – maybe God’s calling you to stay planted against all odds, or  maybe he’s calling you to take a courageous step even when it makes no sense.

But here’s what I can promise you – In the hands of God, moments of grit create memories of grace.