Healing Grace
by Stephanie S Sawyer
Does God take utter destruction, a useless heap upon the ground stilled by the mangling of its once vibrant form, and breathe new life, new formation for fullness of service into it? Absolutely! Or in Texas talk, ‘You bet!’ He did it within the body of Jesus, the Christ crucified and brought back to life from the dead. And He is still at work in the body of Christ, the church and its members. I have seen it. I have lived it. And I will tell it for all the world to hear so that victory is shared and rung out to the world. Our God reigns and His grace alone is an awesome power, a manifesting healing of Christ’s supremacy over all.
The Lord Jesus Christ loves reconciliation. He is, after all, the supreme and holy reconciler of man to God in that He gave His very life for the redemption of the sins of all mankind. He bore the sins of the world upon Himself at the cross in His crucifixion so that we each may approach the throne of God with fullness of knowledge of God’s love for us. And Christ’s merciful redemption continues on today through the Holy Spirit given to those who follow Him as Lord and Savior. That very ongoing redemption and power through the Spirit is God’s grace poured out as we seek Him in all that we do.
I have the great blessing of knowing that grace in my life, and because of it, I am now witnessing and living a mighty act of human reconciliation. I am now experiencing the joy of reunion, the fullness of completion as I realize God’s healing to my former marriage that was shattered by divorce several years ago.
God was not through with my former husband and me. His mercy is great, and His grace is even greater.
I could never have foreseen years ago when I first left my former husband that the growth in both of us caused by the agonizing pain over the wisdom brought on in that separation would lead to a maturity and wisdom in God’s grace. It is the refusal to give into bitterness in the early bleakest days that has assisted the healing process. It is the knowledge of each other’s love for God despite the relevant causes that took us to divorce court that has lent mending in our hearts. That knowledge supplied an honor system and a prayer line so that God could begin the healing system when neither of us were able previously to do so.
Eric, the one and only man in my life, said something profound to me when we first began seeing each other again some time back. Actually, he had quite a bit of insight to share. That’s one of Eric’s finest gifts, and one of the deepest treasures about him that I enjoy. Yet, let me not get sidetracked. Eric told me that within his own prayer life following our separation and eventual divorce, the Lord made known to him that he still had a duty to pray for me even in our apartness and in our separate lives. I have to admit that when I first heard this, I took it as a mark of superiority, a bit of supremacy. Since then, however, I have realized that it is only Eric’s true st love and devotion that have led him to this conclusion to do this even while apart. He has given me the true st understanding of his heart deep within, a heart of commitment and devotion with no thought of supremacy. Eric divulged to me that he yielded up thanks for the arrival of my fine grand piano and even prayed in advance for the occasion that it might indeed happen. At that particular time when I was purchasing the most prized possession of my life, my former husband had mounting difficulties. It would have been easy for him to become bitter and resentful. Instead, he gave thanks to the Lord for an item that I had wanted for years, and for an item that he knew would be dearly treasured by me. He listened not to his own situation, but looked instead to what the Lord had given to me. This is a man who wishes neither bitterness nor discord.
In addition, Eric has shared with me an understanding of healing and reconciliation. He knows that in the heavenly kingdom, we will all be healed as we encounter Jesus at the throne of God. To put it in Eric’s talk, "But if God will heal me then, why not now?" – and so began our openness to reconciliation. Why should we stall what God will bring together in the end?
To continue, as Eric put it, all believers will share eternal life in the heavenly realms when we are reunited with God. Eric knows that I will be there since he has witnessed my faith walk. And he knows that eventually, he and I will be united if we want to be in God’s kingdom.
To put it in Eric’s talk, "God said, ‘She’s up here. Wanna come?’"
What a testimony! Why put off reconciliation? And so began our healing process as God opened the doors, and we allowed that healing grace to pour in. Please note that Eric and I both had to be open to each other and to the Lord to allow this healing process. There was a lot of processing and openhearted communication. Yet, God’s grace reigned.
Letting go of past difficulties has been a thread of refinement as our relationship has been redeemed. Realizing that it is God who has the saving grace, and it is not of ourselves, gives Eric and I the ears to hear and listen in ways we did not have previously.
Most of all, it is exciting to see God’s grace at work as we are now planning our marriage. Our first marriage to each other lasted twenty-seven years and we were deeply bound to each other before deep adversity struck. It thrills me (and Eric) to see that Christ has His plans still for us in reconciling and reuniting. We both know that without Him, it would not be so. God’s grace has been our only salvation, and it will always be the only dependence we have.
July 2007
I am including this Prophecy that Eric was given in November 2000 while the two of us were in prayer one night before our painful divorce. We may not have been able at that time three years later to save ourselves. Yet, God always has His way doesn’t He? Today He is mending us together. Note the message.
Fear not
For I have redeemed you.
I have called you.
I have joined you together
Because it pleased Me to do so.
It is true that I used your weaknesses to draw you together –
But I was the One who joined you.
I joined you because it was good to do so.
And I am pleased.
Trust Me.
Lean on each other.
Love each other.
But trust Me.
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