When the Grace Lifts Off a Place

Years ago, I had a long-term freelance engagement with a biotech company. My job was to translate complex, highly scientific clinical trials into short, readable news items for their global employees. I’d read dense reports, interview PhD scientists and MDs, and then write a few hundred words summarizing the findings. Somehow, I could take this technical information and make it understandable to anyone—effortlessly.

As a decidedly non-scientific person, I have no idea how I pulled that off.

But God.

It wasn’t me. It was His supernatural understanding and equipping. At the time, I was living in rural West Virginia with a baby, my mother, and my now ex-husband. It was a challenging time, so the income and stimulating work was a blessing.

They paid me well, and I worked about twenty hours a week—perfect for a nursing mom. Eventually, they offered me a full-time position in suburban D.C. with an excellent salary. My home life was difficult, and the offer was tempting, but I knew deep down God wasn’t calling me there. I even attended a planning meeting with potential colleagues—filled with F-bombs and ruthless, bottom-line talk. I knew instantly: I didn’t belong there.

Still, the freelance work flowed easily. Communication was smooth, deadlines were met, and grace covered it all.

Then, another offer came—this one even better. Again, I said no, and the executive was baffled. But within months, everything changed. There was a corporate takeover, and the culture shifted. Relationships grew tense. My clarity and supernatural scientific savvy dried up. What had once been effortless became a struggle.

By that time, I had given birth to Isaac and launched a small business for special-needs products. My attention shifted. Eventually, the company phased out contractors—and honestly, it was a relief.

It was an object lesson: when the grace is off a place, God is moving you on.

If you’re walking closely with God, sooner or later He’ll make a move like this. When a chapter ends, when a season shifts, when a relationship loses peace, when a behavior stops working, when joy disappears—it’s often His way of saying, “It’s time to go.”

What was once tolerable becomes intolerable. What once shimmered loses its sparkle.

Even small things can shift. There was a time when I had endless energy and creative juice for arts and crafts—now that grace has lifted, and writing is my focus. Someday, that may change again.

God has shown me, again and again, that apart from Him, I can do nothing. He still operates the same way He did in The Book. He told Abram to leave his homeland and go to an unknown land. He told Joseph to flee to Egypt. He told Paul not to go to Asia.

God invites us to trust and obey.

Sometimes, His direction looks downright crazy—like when He told Noah to build an ark. People may talk, walk, or fret for us, but later it all makes dazzling, grateful sense.

Sometimes I’ve cooperated; other times I’ve resisted. But when the grace lifts, God often allows circumstances to nudge us forward—through discomfort, loss, or even collapse—so that we’ll move toward the next thing He’s prepared.

It’s not punishment. It’s divine redirection.

It’s an invitation to deeper faith—to trust that a loving Father is working things together for our good, even when we can’t see the path ahead.

As I like to say, God is a lamp to my feet, not a spotlight to my destination.

If I stay where my feet are, eyes fixed on Jesus, all is well.

There may still be grief in the letting go—but when we believe a loving God is leading us, that grief can turn into gratitude.

PRACTICE:

Is this happening in some area of your life today?

Do you sense God leading you away from someone or something?

How is He inviting you to deeper surrender and trust?

Ask for His help and guidance.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

Being tuned in to God’s guidance, power, and provision flows from relationship. Do you have a relationship with God through Christ? Are you willing to go where He leads?

“And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

— Matthew 4:19–20 (ESV)

PRAYER

Lord, help us to recognize when Your grace has lifted from a place.

Give us discernment not to resist Your movement in our lives but to seek Your insight about what You’re doing. Grant us grace to lean not on our own understanding but to trust You fully. Lead us to the good place You’ve prepared, for a good purpose, in Your perfect time. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Thank You. I love You. 💖

DIG DEEPER

Genesis 12:1–2

Matthew 2:13–15

Acts 16:6

John 15:5

Romans 8:28

Psalm 119:105