Key Scripture – “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:15, ESV).

Pastor, James McDonald asks: Are you in one of those seasons of life where you really don’t want to accept what’s happening right now? If you are and you’re being really honest, the last thing that you feel like doing is surrendering your will to God. Even if He were to stand over you and make you bend your will to His (which He wouldn’t), maybe you’d be like that little kid sitting at his school desk, and while his teacher is forcibly holding him down by the shoulders, he is thinking “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I am still standing up on the inside”.

I know you are thinking that the thing you are dealing with right now just doesn’t seem right to you. You don’t agree with what God is doing. You think, “I should have a choice in this matter. There’s got to be some other alternative than just sitting here and taking it,” even when you know in your mind that He’s allowing it for purposes you cannot see.

Whenever you remain at odds with God, whenever you push back against the fact that He is in control and you are not, the resistance creates a break in your relationship with Him. That’s the first stop on the road leading away from surrender, because it creates a situation where there is, No Fellowship.

As the downward spiral continues, you then realize you have, No Joy. Broken fellowship with God leads, of course, to no experience with God. At that point, He’s not moving in your life anymore. You are living without the blessings of ongoing interaction with Him.

Which then leads to, No Peace. You are not resting in Him. You are losing the ability to see His purposes in your life, not trusting that He’s working out a good plan for you. The mess seems too big to you. It’s gone on too long, and you have moved away from your hope. You’ve given up. Which can only lead to Bitterness. The worst thing. This is what nobody wants.

All that can ever come from not surrendering is: No Fellowship, No Joy, No Peace = Bitterness!

But there is an alternative, and I’m here to “see to it” today that this downward spiral doesn’t happen to you, “that no ‘root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” I promise you, God offers grace for every trial. God offers grace for every one of your disappointments and heartaches. God offers grace that, when you reach out to “obtain” it, can carry you up under it.

If you are wondering, “What is God’s grace all about?” It’s about the fact that we don’t deserve God’s love, goodness, forgiveness and salvation, but He gives it to us anyway. This generosity isn’t because of what’s in us, but because of His own loving nature.

Anytime you’re not drawing on the grace of God—any time you’re not continuing to love and serve and forgive—life grows progressively harder, drier, colder, and more bitter. But when you start getting the grace, you can say from your heart, “Lord, Your ways are best. You’ve allowed this to happen. I didn’t plan for this, I don’t want this, but I know You’re in control. I know You’re going to use this. I am going to cling to You and Your promises, and I’m going to trust You until I see it.”

I’ve seen God’s Word proven true in my life. Can you hear me urging you right now to draw down deeply on His grace. Do not fail “to obtain the grace of God.” Because any other alternative is just no way to live.

Just stop and think about what your life and all of eternity would be like for you if God gave you what you deserve from Him instead of His grace. Take a minute and consider it. Now Praise God that your life and eternity is different because of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, You’ve shown me the dead end of bitterness in myself as well as in others, I’ve seen the results of it. So I come to You, asking You to give me the strength to fight back against it in me. Make plain the lies that would lead me to consider not surrendering to You. I want to follow you, I bow down before You in humility, my life belongs to You. Father, I trust that Your plans and purposes are infinitely wiser, richer, and better than anything I could possibly want for myself. No matter what is going on I commit my ways to You and I trust You. I take up my cross and follow Jesus and I choose to become better not bitter, therefore, I want You to remove any root of bitterness from me. I know that no matter how hard this trial is Your Blessings will flow through it, and I will come out on the other side more like Jesus. Open my eyes so that I focus on Your Grace instead of the wind and the waves. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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