Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Grace is Messy

Home
Meet Steve Austin
About Messy Grace
Books
Speaker
Contact
Categories
- Faith
- Family
  - Marriage
  - Parenting
- Mental Health
- Recovery
- Writing Help
Best of Messy Grace
Support
Supporters
Affirming Churches
ASK STEVE!
Press
The Podcast

Home
Progressive Christian
Why I Believe Messy Grace Changes Everything

Why I Believe Messy Grace Changes Everything

Last updated on: September 20, 2016 at 3:00 pm by Steve Austin

Why I Believe Messy Grace Changes Everything 2016-09-20T09:51:46-05:00 Steve Austin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Four years ago today, I tried to kill myself. It’s a bittersweet day, thinking back on the week I decided to die. But in the past four years, I have found a whole new life. Not a perfect life, but a life that is better than anything I could have imagined before my suicide attempt.

Source: The Book of Open

Four years ago, I would have never believed I would be a pastor again, or even do me the courtesy of reading my blog again. And I definitely would have never even considered publishing e-books, creating online courses, hosting a mastermind group, and having my blog hosted on the largest religion and spirituality website in the world.

But it is all happening, friends.

And please don’t take this as a brag session. This isn’t bragging, this is grace. And for me, grace looks a whole lot like a second chance. The grace of God continues to restore my life and my soul every single day.

https://youtu.be/AcwLIp3af0g

This is the very same grace that a guy found centuries ago, as he left the pig peg and started the long walk home. The Prodigal Son was content to be his father’s servant, but Grace gave him a ring of sonship. He imagined he would have to beg for forgiveness, but Grace ran toward him and threw him a party.

This young man, who had squandered his entire inheritance, only believed he might, just maybe, have the chance to hug his father one more time. He just wanted to make things right, but Grace cloaked him in acceptance and kissed his filthy cheek.

In spite of it all, because of his heritage as the son of a Good Father, the son was completely forgiven, all was forgotten, and he was brought back as an equal.

There is nothing lacking when Grace arrives. There’s no place for shame. When grace and recovery meet, anything is possible.

Read the rest of today’s post on Jason MacKenzie’s site, The Book of Open. Just click here.

Faith

Messy Grace

Recovery

Recovery from a Suicide Attempt

Previous Post

September 20, 2016

What Does it Take to be a Creative Success?

Next Post

September 21, 2016 Reflecting on Four Years I Never Expected to Have

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Anxiety Best of Messy Grace Current Events Depression Faith Family Featured Fiction lgbtq Marriage Mental Health Messy Grace Millennials Parenting Recovery Recovery from a Suicide Attempt Recovery from Abuse Recovery from Porn Addiction Religious Recovery Self Care The Struggle With Church This is My Story (series) Uncategorized Writing Help

Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 June 2015 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 June 2013 April 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 September 2011 August 2011 May 2011 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who helped Jesus carry His cross?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Peter Simon of Cyrene John Judas