When warm light floods the living room and laughter visits along with friends, we bless the grace of God for making all our good days better.
But when the rain slants heavily across our midnight loneliness, is grace still real? Is God still good?
The greatest saints this world has known are full unanimous on this: God’s grace is undiminished by the dark, the cold, the prison cell, the illness and the tears.
For just such hours and just such years the witness of God’s Word is clear: “He reached down from heaven and rescued me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me” (Psa 18.16-17) “The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is His ear too deaf to hear you call” (Isa.59.1).
Yes, grace is justly celebrated when harmonies rise heavenward, and massive choirs proclaim the beauty of redemption. But grace is even better known when tearful, solo saints exclaim: “From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for Your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer” (Psa 130:1-2).
Call out for grace in any hour. God hears your voice: it doesn’t take a choir.
And stay in grace.
—Bill Knott