Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Prevenient Grace

Prevenient Grace: God working ahead of time for a particular event in the future. I'll be honest. I'd never heard this term before. I searched a little on the internet and depending on your beliefs/religious upbringing it could mean something different to you than it does to me. (I went to a Christian, private school K-11th grade, so jumping on board with everything I read isn't first instinct.) Take what you will from it's meaning.

I'm certain that as time goes on, we will have heard various touching, survivor stories due to the events in Aurora. You may have already seen this one even, but I feel the need to share it with those who may not.

Being a healthcare professional, I shared this with my co-workers this morning after seeing it posted by many friends on Facebook. This pastor has a wonderful way of making you feel as though you are there with he and Kim, sitting on the edge of your seat, awaiting the news they received. He also makes me feel as though I am the healthcare professional sharing words of wisdom, encouragement, and knowledge with Petra's mother.

I was stopped in my tracks by this one woman's story and will always think to myself as things happen in the future, "Is this an act of prevenient grace that will reveal itself at a later time? Should I be questioning you God?" The obvious answer is no. In this particular situation Petra had no way of knowing about the prevenient grace that God was affording her, but as time passed He did. He showed her. He showed her mother. He showed me.

When things are going our way, we don't miss a beat. Life moves on, sometimes it even passes us by, and we fall into a groove. Everyday life. It happens. Then sometimes things aren't going our way. We get annoyed, bothered, aggravated with the fact that life isn't happening the way we want it, when we want it. Petra's grace will serve as just another reminder to take things in stride and to never question it - maybe this is prevenient grace happening and I don't even know it. Yet.

-Suze

2 comments:

  1. I'd never heard the word before either, but I'm a ..believer. He works in mysterious ways. He will use this situation for His glory. People will come to know him from this tragedy...it all works together. Love that He has a plan.

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