When the Grace is Gone

Posted by Dion Todd May 17th, 2015 14,736 Views 0 Comments

And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. Then the LORD said to Jacob, Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you. Genesis 31:2 ESV

Things were beginning to be difficult for Jacob where he worked. The Lord had certainly put him there, prospered him greatly and he had become wealthy. Up until then, his father-in-law had always treated him with favor. Now there was a distance between them, strife and a growing distrust. Laban had changed Jacobs wages ten times (Gen 31:7). Though each time Laban tried to pay Jacob less, God would reverse the expected outcome. The Lord then told Jacob, Return home and I will be with you.

I have been in a work place where I knew that God had put me there. At first it was very easy and graceful, but eventually the grace lifted, it became difficult, there was a growing distrust, and each change that came was always for the worse. In time, the Lord told me to leave, though at the time I had nowhere to go. It was just a leap of faith. This I know: When the grace is gone, it is time to move on.

Sometimes when it becomes time to move, God will allow things to become difficult, and then a door opens where we should go. It can all seem so natural, but it is God behind the scenes moving people to where they need to be. Not every difficult situation is to be left; some of the worst ones I had to endure. There were three points in this story: 1) Jacob had gotten uncomfortable. 2) He was able to leave. 3) He felt that he heard the Lord say go.

Anytime that you have to make a big decision, pray and listen for the Lords voice. Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice. Ask the Lord to make it an easy decision and close the doors that you should stay out of. Change brings new and exciting things and is necessary for us to move forward. If you do not change directions, you will end up exactly where you are headed. Be sure that is where you want to go.