Faith is plunging into God's grace

In September, Margaret wrote on her blog so beautifully about a community member who had passed away (you can read it here). After reading her post, the phrase "faith is plunging into God's grace" really stayed with me. I started a draft post with that same title. Every once in awhile I would look at the title, think, and then close it again. Every time that I opened my blog, I would see the phrase as draft title. It has served as a reminder that God's grace is there for me--always available. There have been a few moments in my life when "faith has been plunging into God's grace," but I believe that my father could have owned that phrase.

It is 26 years ago this summer that I received the message that my father had passed away. I was living in Taiwan at that time, and my parents lived in Finland. There was no e-mail, no cell phones, no Skype or face time. There was  just a message delivered via an acquaintance.

After thinking about myself, and how I had to put my faith in God. How I had to trust in God on the long flight home. I had time to think about my father, and how many times in his life he had to have faith in God's grace.

As a young boy, my father's leg became severely infected. The infections was so bad that the doctor wanted to amputate his leg. My grandmother prevailed; she put her trust in God and plunged right into His grace. My father's leg was saved, and it did eventually heal. Then came November 1939. The Russian army attacked eastern Finland; right where my father's family lived. Everyone had to leave. My father's family became just one of the many refugees that were forced from their homes. They had no choice but to have the faith that is plunging into God's grace. They survived.
A few months later they were able to go back, rebuild their home. The neighborhood was back. New house soon stood on the old foundation. Life was starting to return to normal. Well, as normal as it could be in the midst of World War II in other parts of Europe.
Then came the dreaded June day in 1941, just after midsummer. The Russian tanks were coming so fast you didn't even have time to wait for the bread that was baking in the oven. It was time to pray again. It was time to trust in God's protection. You had no choice but to put your faith in God. They survived. God's grace was sufficient again. But, they were never able to go back again. They were now permanent refugees in their own country. 

My father's family is just one example of many families who survived that time by putting their faith in God. And not just by saying the words, but by practicing faith that plunges or dives into God's grace. I am blessed; I had great examples of faith when growing up.