Look What Happens When Mercy Suddenly Interrupts Fear
A story of fear, interruption, and quiet grace
The caller ID on the incoming call showed our local victims’ assistance program. My stomach sank as I said hello. The kind voice told me that the man who was sentenced for breaking into our home and stealing priceless antiques and family treasures four years earlier was requesting early release and wanted my response to pass on at the hearing. One brief call could trigger a wave of emotions, from fear and anger to sadness, confusion, distrust, and other unpleasant feelings.
I didn’t have time to dwell on those emotions when the next phone call came through. It was the wedding venue calling me back to place my linen order for an event I was helping coordinate. When I gave her my name, she said it sounded familiar. This led to a long conversation about her husband, a former student. I shared the time her husband led our Speech class on a field trip to his family’s garage to show the work he was doing to restore a vintage car. The call filled my heart with wonderful memories of students and joyful moments during my teaching career.
Mercy That Interrupts Fear
Two calls sparked very different emotions and memories. What humbled me was God’s lovingkindness in providing a pleasant distraction with the first call. He knew the downward spiral my heart would take if I lingered on the threat to my home, my loved ones, and our peace. At His perfect timing, He sent a call that shifted my focus to sweet memories and feelings of joy.
I sat in my cozy blue chair near the blazing fireplace on the bitterly cold morning and thought, “This is exactly what I pray for.” My daily prayers include asking God to open my eyes and heart to see every blessing He places in my life, specifically for me. Then I wondered, how often do I miss them? How often do I miss an opportunity to be grateful and celebrate His lovingkindness, generosity, patience, and goodness toward me? For a brief moment, I felt sad that I had not been faithful in noticing the blessings, but in His goodness, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I can start over. I recognized this one today, and I can do it again.
A Gratitude Do-Over
I noticed that He protected me from feelings of helplessness and discouragement. I noticed that He quickly distracted me with joyful memories. I noticed that I chose not to return to the overwhelming news and instead focused on His provision. I also noticed that His mercy and grace are more powerful than my thoughts and my fear of ‘what if.’
Praying for God to reveal the unique and specific blessings He prepares for me each day is a lifeline. Expecting to see His goodness helps me deepen my trust in who He is and who I am in Him. The perspective of expecting God not only to provide blessings but also to help me notice them doesn’t come from within me. It’s His endless mercy and grace because He loves me. This perspective is a heart position of awe and wonder, not fear and doubt that He will provide. It is not entitlement, but genuine joy in trusting His blessings will appear, though the way remains unknown.
A Weighty Gift
Today, I am just grateful. Grateful that God sees what I cannot yet bear. Grateful that His mercy breaks through my fear. Grateful that He is patient when my focus shifts and gentle when my trust feels fragile. I find comfort in the truth that His presence isn’t something I need to create or earn. It is freely given to me, again and again, by a faithful God who loves caring for His children.
Father, thank you so much for the gift of salvation in Jesus. May the weight of that gift sink into our hearts today and draw us to you. May gratitude well up in us for what you have done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Meet Joni Rosebrock
Joni Rosebrock helps women live Christ-centered lives in a self-focused world. She is the creator of WRAP Yourself in the Word™, a Scripture-anchored practice that helps believers engage God’s Word in practical, life-giving ways, and the host of the WRAP Yourself in the Word podcast. Through teaching, speaking, and workshops like Who’s the Boss of Your Mind. Joni equips women to recognize the lies shaping their thoughts, anchor themselves in biblical truth, and flourish in everyday faith. Joni is also part of a creative collaboration podcast called Saved You A Seat.
She lives in NW Ohio with her husband, Randy, where they steward their family grain farm and Arrowsmith Farm and Retreat.
Where to find her . . .
Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.
If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.
