Where are you standing?

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Romans 5:1–5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.​

What It Is Speaking to Me Today

The preceding chapters in Romans detail our inability to justify ourselves or earn God's favor through works or the law. Paul is building the argument that we are “justified by faith”; it is faith alone that gains us access to the righteousness of God. Once justified, we are put into “this grace in which we stand.” Sounds great, right? On top of all that, he ends these verses by reminding us that the love of God has been lavishly poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has also given to us. That is quite a lot.

And then Paul starts talking about tribulations, which is a lot less fun of him… but he also knew something that we all know: life isn’t perfect, and all sorts of bad things happen to us. And sometimes…it isn’t even our own fault.​ We can be standing in His grace and still have things go wrong. He doesn’t say trials come because we moved out of his grace. In spite of trials, he says we are standing IN grace.

You remember the first time you climbed the tree in the backyard, or got on your roof? How the backyard suddenly looked totally different from your new-found perspective? That is what standing in grace is like. It changes your perspective. In the midst of trials, it seems vitally important to know where you are standing. When we stand in His grace, we can see the opportunities God is providing for in the trial we are in—opportunities for perseverance, character, and hope. Every trial is an opportunity; standing in His grace enables us to see them.

What Is It Saying to You?

Where are you standing? If you are in a trial right now, where are your feet? What opportunities do you see right now? Are you trusting that God’s grace is going to help you walk through this trial?

What Are We Going to Do About It?

If a trial arises today, or you are already in one, reflect on just one opportunity God is giving you right now in this trial, and try to act on it.