Give Yourself Grace

It’s time to acknowledge the fact that you have come a long way from where you first started. Remember the days when you did not know whether you were coming or going (up one day and down the next)?  Remember when peace of mind and emotional freedom were not a part of your life?  Do you remember when that low-level anxiety was always running in the background of your mind? Do you remember all of the internal pain of needing validation from having a relationship or from other people in general?  Do you remember the days when you needed the outside props from men, your job, compliments, designer clothes, and the overall “need to be seen” in order to feel good about yourself?

At some point along the way, you made a huge, significant shift — a giant leap of faith where you actually laid hold of and grasped the promises of God for your very life, your sanity and peace of mind.  By the sheer grace and mercy of God, you found the strength, the wherewithal to actually receive and apply His grace that helped you to arrive at this particular season of your life.  You now walk in greater emotional health and peace of mind.  You know deep down inside that you are loved and valued by God.  You are no longer screeching internally for outside validation.

Now you have been walking the path towards greater degrees of wholeness, you find that the grace that you first walked in now seems a bit elusive.  What happened? You know that you have experienced a mighty deliverance.  You know what God has done in you, for you and through you.  But now the road is a little trickier.  The tests keep coming.  You have suffered to maintain the level of wholeness you now walk in and it is a battle to move to the next level.  What happened? You did run well; who did hinder you…? (Galatians 5:7)

Here are four ways to give yourself grace as you move forward to heal and order your life:

1. Self-Forgiveness. Give yourself the grace to be a human and make mistakes.  Give yourself the grace of letting yourself off the hook.  God convicts, but does not condemn.  We tend to do the opposite.  We condemn ourselves and with that comes shame.  Shame will always keep you small, living small, dating small, and showing up small.  Forgive yourself and move forward.
2. Transition Time. Give yourself the grace to transition between seasons and relationships.  Don’t go jumping into a new relationshiop all fast and hard catching feeligns before your soul and heart have had a chance to adequately process and heal from the previous situation.  Protect your heart from rebounding and guard your sanity by giving yourself the grace of transition time.
3. Permission to Live and Love. Give yourself the grace of permission.  Repeat after me, “I give myself the permission to live and love again.”  It’s okay.  It really is! You are enough and you deserve to be loved and cherished.
4. Walk Worthy. You are worthy.  Give yourself the grace and permission to walk worthy of the calling and purpose that God as called you too.  You are worth it.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Your life has meaning and significance.  Walk like it and act like. Stop hiding out in shame and fear and other excuses.

Give yourself Grace!

 

Tonika