Last week I enjoyed the outdoors. Where I live, seventy-degree temperatures in February are not the norm, so I was ecstatic. Refusing to allow the children or myself remain inside, I basked in the opportunity to ignore the housework, unplug from technology, and be in the sunshine. Each afternoon my kids would ride their bikes while I sat in my rocking chair and read. I began the newest book by Kyle Idleman, Grace is Greater, and thought I knew what to expect. I’ve read many of Kyle’s books and heard his sermon series by the same title. But I was unprepared for the ways in which this book ministered to my heart and breathed grace into my marriage.
Grace is not a new word to us. It’s familiar — and that can be a problem. When you’re using a word that has been around for a long time and has been talked about frequently, people tend to yawn. The word grace is so common it doesn’t feel very amazing.
Kyle does an excellent job helping the reader discover (and rediscover) the concept of grace and how it impacts our daily lives.
Grace is powerful enough to erase your guilt.
Grace is big enough to cover your shame.
Grace is real enough to heal your relationships.
Grace is strong enough to hold you up when you’re weak.
Grace is sweet enough to cure your bitterness.
Grace is satisfying enough to deal with your disappointment.
Grace is beautiful enough to redeem your brokenness.
Grace is Greater
I cried on almost every page as my need to better accept and extend grace became apparent. If you remember my Valentine’s Day struggle, you will understand why I took a picture of this paragraph and set it as my screensaver. God’s timing brought a smile to my face as these words encouraged me to stand strong in my commitment to purge expired memories.
What we intentionally do with our favorite movies we often unintentionally do with our least favorite memories. We keep that moment of betrayal or the hateful words or the unfair treatment cued up and ready to play. You don’t repress what happened to you, you rehearse it. Rehash it. Play it. Again and again. And it turns your hurt into resentment. You think that if you don’t, you’re letting the person get away with what they did — but really you’re just letting them continue to hurt you.
Grace is Greater challenges the reader to not only accept God’s healing grace but to lavishly offer everyone in their life that same grace. Every day I receive letters from you all, and the hurt many of you have experienced in your marriage breaks my heart. Thinking of your stories, knowing my own, I firmly believe Grace is Greater is an outstanding marriage book because every husband and wife could use more grace!
What strikes me about this woman’s story is that she mentioned praying for her unfaithful husband five times in only seven short paragraphs. Prayer is what makes forgiveness possible.
She offers forgiveness when he has done nothing to deserve it and hasn’t bothered to ask for it. This step of forgiveness is not dependent upon the person who hurt you to do something or say anything. It’s between you and God. You release the pain to him. If this woman could do it while having her life torn apart by her husband, if Stephen could do it while being stoned to death by his enemies, and if Jesus could do it while being nailed to a tree, then you can do it too. If you ask God, he will give you the grace you need. Take your anger and rage to him in prayer. Prayer is the release valve for your feelings of bitterness and anger.
I would certainly encourage everyone to read Grace is Greater and share it with those around them (click here to purchase). In fact, because I’m a big believer that this book will positively impact your life and marriage, I am offering a fun giveaway package! Enter below to win a copy of Grace is Greater by Kyle Idleman along with a copy of my devotional and a Praying for my husband leather bracelet. I’m excited to see what the Lord is going to do through this book.
Praying we all experience more of His grace today!
darby dugger
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Melissa says
Grace has always been a mystery to me. How God can give away something so freely, despite the pain and anguish we cause Him. The pain and anguish we feel is nothing compared to what He feels. When we think we’ve had enough of someone’s pain, imagine how much more pain God has experienced and forgiven! We are hurt by only those people in our lives that we know, but imagine being hurt by every single person every created! WOW! And yet His grace is extended so freely, whether we ask for His forgiveness or not. His mercies are new every single morning. In comparison, the command to us to forgive those who have hurt us is miniscule. I’ve heard great things about Kyle Idleman and I’d be very interested to read this!
Darby Dugger says
That’s an excellent point, Melissa. To be hurt by every single person created. Powerful. Kyle is an excellent author. Good luck in the giveaway.
Deborah says
I think remembering to better offer grace blesses me and blesses my relationships…..Living it out isn’t always easy! 🙂
Darby Dugger says
Amen to that. Easy to know the right thing to do, but another thing to live it out. Thanks for entering. Good luck.
Dorcas says
What we intentionally do with our favorite movies we often unintentionally do with our least favorite memories. We keep that moment of betrayal or the hateful words or the unfair treatment cued up and ready to play.
Oh I have done that for way too long. And am now learning to let go and let God’s grace flow through me, but some habits are hard to break. I am so encouraged to see progress in my heart and my husband’s, I would love this book
Darby Dugger says
That quote is spot on, isn’t it?! So encouraged to hear you are seeing progress. Good luck!
Christy says
Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to revisit this subject. 💕
valerie says
I think it is harder for me to extend grace to myself and the past mistakes I’ve made and still make from time to time. I know His grace is sufficient.
Darby Dugger says
Yes! Accepting His grace can sometimes be more difficult than extending it. Don’t trust your feelings, trust His Word. Thanks for sharing. Good luck in the giveaway!
Annita says
Grace is something to learn each and every day, and especially in the areas God has prompted already and we are struggling about to change. We need God’s grace to lead us in the areas we struggle about and also His grace to forgive us when we do the same time and time again. Praise to our God Who grants us everything and forgives us.
Darby Dugger says
Yes, Praise Him indeed! So thankful for His grace. Thanks for commenting.
Nicci Ramirez says
Giving it!!! Oh I want it and expect it so selfishly, but when it comes to giving it 🙁 Well, I am a work in progress FOR SURE 😉 Learning and praying for more awareness, possession, and extension of grace will most certainly help enhance ALL of my relationships!
Darby Dugger says
You said it perfectly. Good luck.
Cassie Thompson says
My husband is clinically depressed and suffers from PTSD and needs to be given grace beyond grace. He has moments of wanting to separate and leave and during these times grace is hard to extend when my heart is breaking. I pray for him daily and ask God to help give me a grace only He can give me as we wade through these times (including right now).
Darby Dugger says
Oh Cassie. I’m so sorry for all you are going through. I will be praying for you and your husband! Keep me updated on how God is working!
Jennifer says
Grace is always something we need more of!! We especially need to be generous with the grace we give ourselves!!
Darby Dugger says
Yes… and yes! 🙂
Ruth G says
Thank you for sharing
Darby Dugger says
You’re welcome. 🙂
Genita says
I can’t wait to read this book. I’m always challenged by what Kyle Idleman teaches!
Darby Dugger says
Me too! It is great book! Good luck.
Heather says
Extending grace when someone continues to repeat the same sin against you without ever acknowledging it or apologizing for it is SO hard! And then the Holy Spirit prompts me to consider Romans 5:8… How Jesus extended grace to me before I even knew I needed it or asked for His forgiveness.
Darby Dugger says
Yes, Heather! So right… it is funny how the Holy Spirit doesn’t often let us get away with being stingy with grace! Good luck on the giveaway.
Lisa Preuett says
Excited about this new book! Can’t wait to dive in. Thanks for sharing with us.
Darby Dugger says
You’re welcome, Lisa.
Nicole says
Looking forward to reading this one, thank you for sharing!
Darby Dugger says
You’re welcome!