Rhythms of Grace

One thing that strikes me from yesterday’s reading in Matthew is that living in “rhythms” of grace will necessarily mean change.  A rhythm is not all one thing.  It’s periods of one thing alternating with periods of another - in music, for instance, activity or play alternating with silence and rest.

Perhaps one way of understanding “rhythms of grace” is that there will be fluctuations in how we balance giving and receiving: are we in a season where we sense we have a lot we can give others: emotionally, with our time or through our resources?  Or are we in a season where we sense some real limits in our ability to give, instead needing time to rest and restore or just deal with life, allowing others to minister to us?

Let’s read that passage again, this time asking Jesus for the emotional freedom and awareness to live in the rhythms he invites us into.  Talk with him about the season you’re in right now – today or as you think about your next week.  What is your need to receive and soak in grace?  What is your capacity to give and serve others?  It doesn’t need to be all one or the other; in fact, it rarely is.

 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” – Matt. 11:28-30