Chosen Grace

Hello lovely readers! I’ve been meaning to get this blog post to you guys for quite some time. But- as May comes to an end, I think it’s right on time. Enjoy!

My car stopped on me.

Yes, you read that right. My car stopped on me.

It was the middle of April- on a Sunday. I had decided to treat myself after a long week. So after church, I stopped by Smoothie King (and if you know about that place- you know those smoothies are the BOMB!).

After getting my smoothie, I realized that smoke was coming from my hood! So- I pulled over and after trying to fix the problem on my own- I called my parents. I didn’t think the car needed much- maybe to refill on some coolant. But as time went by -and my bottle of coolant started to run empty- I knew that something was wrong.

So, after waiting for hours in the Smoothie King parking lot- the tow truck finally came and my car went into the auto shop. My uncle came and took me back to my apartment, but I was devastated! I honestly didn’t know where to go from that point. I mean-my car took me everywhere I needed to go.

And to make matters worse- I found out that I had a cracked head gasket- which is serious business in the world of automotives.

But, I sucked it up, prayed about it, and kept the faith. With my parents help and my friends caring for me- two weeks went by and I had grown content without having my go to transportation. I was actually so at peace- that I had forgotten that I didn’t have a car.

Finally- the day came for my car to come back. I was soooo excited. My mom called me and told me it was ready- so my friend and I went to get it. As soon as I got my keys back, I waved to my friend and hopped into my car eager to have my own transportation back.

But as soon as I crunk up the engine, it dinged- alerting me that it needed more coolant. I couldn’t believe what I was reading- but sure enough it kept telling me that it needed something. Choosing to ignore that ding, I got back on the road. But the rising temperature gauge and my gut told me that I needed to go back to the shop. So I called my mother- and she confirmed what I felt.

And so, I went back. But I was not a happy camper. For one- I couldn’t understand why God would make me go back to a place where I had come from. I just couldn’t fathom it. So, while waiting for the head auto mechanic to check the car- I began to have a dialogue with God. And he slowly began to minister to me Jacob’s story in Genesis.

Now, if you remember, I talked about Jacob in my blog post Resting on Rocks, where God called Jacob to a land that he was unfamiliar with. But now, God was calling Jacob back home- to a place where he had fled from. Now although Jacob didn’t understand- he was obedient to God’s prompting. Let’s check out his response in the verses below:

⁹ Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ ¹⁰ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. ¹¹ Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. ¹² But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’” –Genesis 32, NIV

Now right before the verses above- Jacob had seen his brother Esau coming to greet him with a host of people. This scared Jacob because the last time the two brothers were together- Esau said that he was going to kill him (Genesis 27:42). So for Jacob to see his brother coming to him with tons of men- made Jacob more than nervous. And so, Jacob knew he had to talk with God.

But what’s important in the verses above, is that in Jacob’s prayer- he reminded God of the promise that He had made over his life. Jacob knew what God had said to him- and was not afraid to let God know what was on his mind.

We must be like Jacob. Sometimes- God will cause things to happen in our lives that make no sense. Maybe He’s calling you to go back to a place you had left, like Jacob. Or He’s calling you into unfamiliar territory like Abraham. Or maybe He’s asking you to carry something big, like Mary. Regardless of what God is calling you to do- it can be scary.

I’ll admit to you guys- when my car was messed up and I didn’t know what to do- I was scared out of my mind.

But just like Jacob- I had to remind God of what He promised me. And you must do the same. God has already promised not to leave you, nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) And He’s promised you a hope and future (Jer. 29:11). God has promised you good things- stand on that when life circumstances become uncertain.

But- sometimes just reminding God isn’t enough. Jacob knew that as well and he had to wrestle with God:

²⁴ So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. ²⁵ When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. ²⁶ Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”²⁷ The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered.²⁸ Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,^[f] because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” –Genesis 32 NIV

I truly love the encounter above. You see, while Jacob wrestled physically with God- we can wrestle with God in our thoughts, possessions, and dreams.

But even when we do- like Jacob we must not let go. Jacob knew the blessing was coming- and he was more that prepared to fight for it. We must do the same: fight those thoughts that aren’t lining up with God’s word. Fight in prayer, fight in worship.

For those two weeks I didn’t have my car, up until I had to return to the shop- I had to fight everyday. And I did my fighting in prayer. I wasn’t letting go. And I encourage you all to do the same.

And when you do these things- God will see that you have the faith to go the the next level. He will provide for you- as He has already promised.

After wrestling with God- Jacob and his brother were reunited with love for one another- not hate. God had to prepare Jacob’s heart to meet Esau.

God will prepare our hearts just the same- only if we allow Him to. We must go to our spiritual auto shop to be fixed.

To conclude this post, sometimes God will bring us to the auto shop. He did it to Jacob. And he literally did it to me.

But I encourage you- that while you are in the auto shop to trust that the Master Mechanic knows what he is doing. He will find the parts that are wrong- and fix you up.

I also want to encourage you that when it seems like you are starting over- God is really prepping you for your breakthrough. Trust Him. He won’t fail you.

I can assure you- that things are working for your good (Romans 8:28). Even when you and God wrestle, things are well for you. Trust that.

With a new love for the auto shop,

Malaysia

P.S: My car runs like a charm. She’s back- and so much better!