It is hard to show grace to others when we are mad at them. It is even more difficult to show grace to someone that we disagree with. We get caught up in the moment and spout off at the mouth. We judge and point a finger at others.
Why is showing grace to others important? Showing grace is a good way to de-escalate a situation. Giving the other person a benefit of the doubt keeps us humble. When others do wrong by us, do we follow scripture and apply a Biblical response to the situation?
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
If God is willing to give us the gift of grace, shouldn't we replicate this gift with others in our lives? Grace through God allowed us to be saved from our sins. God cared enough for us that created a path through Jesus so that we could return to heaven to be with him. Without Gods grace, we would all go to hell.
If you apply grace to our lives, we should have no problem showing grace to others. After all, God saved you from an eternity in hell because of grace. The least we could do is to replicate this grace to others.
How to show grace in your life.
I have been in more situations through my life than I can count where I have been wronged by someone else. I might have been 100% right in some of these situations. Trust me; it is hard letting go of anger and frustration with people. I can forgive easily, but I rarely forget. Grace allows me to forgive quicker. When I show grace to others, it makes things easier for me on the inside. I feel less temptation to get angry with the situation. I try to understand the other person's point of view more, and I let God intervene and work his wonders.
Grace doesn't always have to be for the other person. Grace is just as important to the person giving as receiving. When you let your guard down and show forgiveness and compassion to others, you will be amazed by their response. It is hard for someone to escalate a situation when they are being shown grace. They tend to replicate kindness with kindness.
Next time you get in a situation where grace is warranted, try to change the direction of the conversation. Start by showing grace, compassion, and understanding no matter how mad or frustrated you are. You will quickly see how creating a positive tone for the conversation leads to a more constructive talk.
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