Grace in the Gray

This morning, I’m feeling low and troubled without any clear reason. I’ve always tended to live in my head, searching for answers. Whether I’m trying to fix a buggy computer or create a perfect logo for my website, my instinct is always to figure things out on my own, no matter how long it takes.

But I’ve learned that overthinking rarely gets me closer to understanding my moods. It’s ironic. Over the course of my teaching career, I encouraged countless distraught AP Economics students who had low grades to fail forward and show themselves some grace. Yet I struggle to extend that same compassion to myself.

My wife knows this about me. She’s unfailingly kind and lovingly offers the advice I’d give others. Even when I resist, her gentle wisdom nudges me toward grace and common sense.

She’s teaching a preschool class at church today, but if she were here, I know she would echo the words I’d hear from one of the apostles, and certainly from Jesus himself: Don’t stay stuck in your head—be intentional about changing your thinking.

In my mind, I can picture the Lord placing his hand on my shoulder, smiling and saying, “Didn’t you just write about renewing your mind a few days ago?” What a gentle Savior we have.

Listing my blessings has become my anchor and inspired the What I Know Today series. At first, it was just for me, but I saw that these struggles are universal. Our struggles may take different forms, but we all wrestle with life in a broken world that is not our home.

Sharing my reflections has reminded me I’m not alone. Many have told me my words were exactly what they needed to hear—and it’s shown me how much we all need encouragement from one another.

So today, I count my blessings and let grace speak louder than self-criticism. If you’re reading this, may you remember mercy is for you, too.

As the old hymn says:

“Count your many blessings, name them one by one;

Count your many blessings, see what God has done.”

I pray you discover, like I have this morning, that contemplating God’s blessings can turn gray skies blue.

I hope you will take a moment and count your blessings too.

. . . and that’s what I know today.