Celebrate Recovery
The Gift of Restorative Grace
By Sheila Knudson, Northeast Regional Director
Recently while reading Gordon MacDonald’s book, Rebuilding Your Broken World, I came across this statement: “The granting of restorative grace is among the greatest and most unique gifts one Christian can give another.”
I just sat there pondering on what a powerful statement that was! Restorative grace . . . a term I had never heard of or even thought about before. MacDonald goes on to say that there were two chapters he could not write in his story if he had not received this one unique gift. One that he could not give himself but instead received from others in his circle. That gift was restorative grace, and its objective was to rebuild his once broken personal world.
I thought back to my own personal broken world and my journey of restoration. I thought about how God, other Christians, as well as my Celebrate Recovery Family gave me the gift of restorative grace. I realized I, too, could not give myself this gift—the gift that has totally changed my life and its trajectory. Yet, that gift, restorative grace, continues to provide me with life, hope, peace, and purpose.
My struggles are being healed, and my broken world continues to be restored through this process. My shame has been turned into honor, guilt into innocence, worry, fear, and anxiety have been replaced with joy, peace, and serenity. As for my insecurity . . . Today, I know that my security does not come from the world; instead, I am secure in my one and only higher power, Jesus Christ!
Restorative grace is not a one-and-done deal. It is an ongoing gift that ebbs and flows as new circumstances arise. It’s not only a precious gift I receive but also one I can give to others when their world breaks apart.
Isn’t that what we do as we serve in the ministry of Celebrate Recovery? We don’t just offer grace, but we have an amazing opportunity to offer restorative grace. Celebrate Recovery is a safe place where we give others the space, the tools, and the grace needed so that their broken worlds can be rebuilt as well.
“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.”
Matthew 5:10 (GNT)
Points to ponder
- Who is someone who has given you the gift of restorative grace?
- Are you a part of someone else’s journey of restorative grace?
- If not, why not? What’s holding you back?
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If you would like to learn how to start your own Celebrate Recovery ministry, to contact your Celebrate Recovery Rep, please visit: https://crgroups.info/. To get involved in an already existing Celebrate Recovery ministry near you, please visit: https://locator.crgroups.info/.