A Complicated Grace

 

1/20/2026

Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”

This past fall, I began leading the women's Sunday school class at my church. I hadn't been attending the class since the Covid-19 lockdown, but that is a story for another day. Two wonderfully committed and Godly women, and dear friends of mine as well, taught the class for approximately 30 years. Under their leadership, the class became a place to share everything and anything that was happening in people's lives in a loving, safe, and nonjudgemental environment. They built a true sisterhood among the women. 

Even though I had only attended a few times since 2020, I was welcomed back with open arms. The teaching model had changed recently as these two lovely leaders tried to step back and find their heir apparent. The ladies in the class were encouraged to volunteer facilitating on different Sundays and teach what God had led them share. This past fall, a short study was agreed upon to begin the year. I offered to lead one of the nine weeks in the study, but boy did God have another plan for me that I never saw coming. One chapter turned to two, and two turned to three, and before I knew it, I was facilitating the lessons for the rest of the book. To say I have been richly blessed by being so lovingly accepted back into this wonderfully faithful group would be a tremendous understatement. Then being encouraged to continue in this leadership role has also richly blessed me.

Currently, our class is using the book, Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa Terkeurst. So far, I am finding it to be very well crafted, and it has led to a lot of conversation and sharing. It is not, however, an easy study.

A quote that I shared from the companion study guide goes as follows: “Forgiveness is a complicated grace that uncomplicates my anger and helps me see beautiful again.” Some of the ladies unpacked this quote very personally, and some unpacked it by thinking of the grace that is freely given to us all by Christ’s sacrifice. As I was preparing to present this quote, I had a conversation with my son. We think very much alike, although he is far more intelligent and wiser than I. The following is what came from that conversation. (This is mostly my son, with a tad of me.)

Extending grace is like working in a garden. The work can be hard, hot, dirty, uncomfortable, and generally unpleasant. You have to dig up and fight the weeds that can choke out the flowers, but when done, what is left is beauty.

 “Forgiveness is not erasure; it is progress and growth.”  RGC

The ultimate act of grace did not reset time, but it allowed us to move forward in a different way with God. The original garden was not reopened, but our relationship to God was. The physical location was lost, but our connection to God was restored.

Nothing about Jesus’ ultimate act of love and grace was easy. It was the most complicated act in all of space and time. It is only because of His grace extended to us that we can extend grace and forgiveness to others. Although forgiving a deep injury can feel like the most complicated deed, it is nothing compared to what the Savior endured on my behalf.

Time to get weeding. As always, I am a work in progress.