Grace is no bubble—beautiful but fragile—momentarily hovering—and covering—the story of our separation from the Father.

Forgiveness isn’t offered just to give us light and hope, even though it always ends in joy and wondrous dreams.  No, grace is strong the way a father’s grip is strong—muscle strong, sinew strong, unyielding and unwilling to let go.

The love you cannot earn is also love you cannot lose, for He has never yet allowed one outstretched hand to slip His grasp.  God has pledged Himself in language He cannot—will not—disavow:  “I have loved you with an everlasting love,” He says; “therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you” (Jeremiah 31.3).

Though life is full of fragile things, God’s grace is never one of them.

So stay in grace. -Bill Knott