Daily PresenceSample

After reading this passage two words come to mind: Chaos and commitment! From hiding babies to killing off manipulating women, this passage was loaded with content that makes for a great Netflix documentary. Yet even with all the chaos happening, over and over again we get a glimpse into the faithfulness of the Lord.

There was a time in my life right after high school when I felt like I was living in a cycle of Screw up, call out for God, experience grace, repeat. This cycle continued in my life for way too long, but as I look back on it there was one consistency throughout my repeated failures – God’s constant grace.

As I read through 2 Kings 11-13 it’s reflective of the same cycle with God constantly giving grace and compassion in the midst of their dysfunction. It starts with Jehoida’s covenant and reforms amid absolutely crazy leadership. When the people turned back to the Lord His gift to them was a time of joy and peace (11:20). As Jehoahaz ruled, he cried out to God for help, “and the Lord heard his prayer, for he could see how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. So the Lord provided someone to rescue the Israelites from the tyranny of the Arameans. What do they do after this? Rebel and screw it up.

Then Elisha comes along and redirects an arrow through a window and pronounces the Lord’s coming victory. Once again, our God of grace does what only He can do.

If you find yourself in a similar cycle, spend more time thanking God for His consistent grace than you do beating yourself up for the failures. It is His relentless grace that will lead us out of the cycle, and His relentless grace that will transform our life. Praise God for His good grace!