Chosen Grace

Hi everyone! It’s been a minute, huh? Well, in that time, God has been working. Let’s check it out:

Last weekend, I was driving upstate to attend my friend’s birthday dinner. I was excited and had prepared, primed, and packed to celebrate another year I could enjoy my friend.

As I was driving on the highway, my GPS alerted me that I had to switch onto another busier one that we South Carolians call “Malfunction Junction” (if you know, you know!).

As I got settled into my lane, I noticed a big, black truck behind my small, grey compact car. I didn’t think much of it until I noticed that they were riding my tail. I immediately got uncomfortable because I hate when someone tailgates me.

I looked to my right to see if I could move into a different lane, but I was stuck. There was a car in front of me on my right, but they weren’t moving fast enough for me to safely enter that lane.

I looked back in my rearview mirror, and the driver who was tailgating me was pointing to my right. They were telling me to “move over!”. Immediately, I got anxious and a little fearful because I didn’t understand why they would be angry or why they felt the need to tell me to move. After that, I began fussing about them in my head. A few minutes later, I had a clear lane and went into the slower lane, and the black truck flew past me.

Although the black truck disappeared into the distance, the driver and their tailgating and hand signals still had me slightly anxious, frustrated, angry, and afraid. I tried dismissing my feelings, but I then felt the Lord tug on my heart.

“Talk to me, Malaysia.” I heard Him say. And so, I did. I told Him how frustrated I was that that truck tailgated me, but more afraid when they motioned for me to move. I admitted that it had made me nervous, and I felt uncomfortable. But more than that, I wanted to get my lick back! I told God I wanted to fuss with that driver and prove my point on why they should wait.

As soon as I was honest with God, He gently replied, “Let them. You did the right thing by letting them have their way. Who knows, by not doing so, they could’ve harmed you. And I wouldn’t have desired that. You did the right thing. Let them have it.”

As soon as I heard the Holy Spirit spoke those words to my soul, a peace filled my body and followed me for the rest of the trip and into my week.

You see, while I had to navigate an impatient driver, sometimes we all encounter people who seem to frustrate us, make us afraid, or make us want to fight back in different ways. But, sometimes doing nothing is exactly what God desires from us. Let’s look at Scripture to back this up.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.”

– Matthew 5:38-40

In Matthew 5, Jesus was preaching what we now know as “The Sermon on the Mount”. It’s where we get the Beatitudes, lessons on marriage, taking oaths, and how to love your enemies.

In our passage for today, we see that Jesus tells the people (and us!) to not seek revenge, but to instead be kind and giving towards those who do evil things towards us.

You see, back in the Old Testament, God held true to the “eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” standard (Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21). Back before Jesus stepped on the scene, if someone stole your lamb, you could steal their lamb. And if someone stole your sack or grain, you could take their sack of grain. For hundreds of years, this was the standard.

So, for a 33-year-old carpenter to be preaching to thousands and telling them the complete opposite must have been jarring. I mean, I would’ve been like “Lord, how do I even apply this?” Well, the good thing is that Jesus gives us practical applications.

When Jesus says, “do not resist an evil person”, He’s telling us not to argue back or resist what they are doing. But instead, we should pray for them (Matt. 5:43) and let them continue doing what they are doing. While we may not agree with their actions, we pray that God will change their hearts.

Now, I’ll admit- I’m not the best at doing this. There have been times where instead of praying, I’m mentally cussing them out – real talk. Other times I’ll shut down on whoever has frustrated me and act like they don’t exist. Childish behavior – I know.

But, as I’ve grown closer to God and allowed him to teach me how to be a better neighbor in my everyday life, He’s shown me that shutting down or fussing back is not always the way to go. Instead, God has told me to simply let them:

When someone has done evil to me, to let them.

When I feel someone driving is tailgating me, to let them pass.

And when my mom is fussing at me for forgetting to do the dishes, to let her.

Why? Because sometimes silence and turning the other cheek is exactly what will give God glory. If that seems opposite to the world’s design, that’s because it is. Why? Because God’s Spirit is not in the world, but in His believers.

“Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

– Zechariah 4:6, ESV

I want to pull in one more Scripture that emphasizes how, in some cases, God doesn’t need us to do anything. Instead, He wants us to simply trust Him while His Spirit does the changing in the other person.

This means that it could be weeks, months, or years of dealing with someone who angers or annoys us before we see visible change. And while this can be discouraging, we must trust that God’s timing is perfect. What may take long to us, God can do with the snap of his fingers. He is the only living thing that can change the heart of man. So why do we let them? Because we trust that God is in control.

As we close, I challenge you this week to let them this week. Whatever it looks like – just let them. And watch God work it out.

Love,

Malaysia

P.S:

On the way back from my friend’s dinner, I found it easier to “let them” as many cars zoomed past me. I didn’t get scared or anxious, but instead I began to trust my God, who is good. I made it home safely and slept like a baby :).