Experiencing God’s Grace
Life can be brutal. Pain and suffering are often part of the human experience. Yet Scripture reminds us there is a way forward—one marked by hope and restoration. In 1 Peter 5:10, the apostle Peter writes, “So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation.”
In this four-week series called Restoration, we are exploring God’s plan to restore our lives so we can joyfully walk in His purposes and experience His blessings.
In Part 1, guest speaker Rich Nye, a member of our church, began the series by focusing on the foundation of all restoration: God’s grace.
Restoration Often Begins in Brokenness
Rich opened with a powerful truth:
God often does His deepest restorative work in our most broken moments.
Pain can become a doorway to healing
Weakness can lead us to dependence on God
Chaos can give way to peace
Just as gold is refined through fire, restoration often comes through difficulty. When we reach the end of ourselves, we discover that God has been present all along.
What God’s Grace Really Means
Grace is central to the Christian faith—but it’s frequently misunderstood.
At its core, grace means receiving what we do not deserve.
Scripture teaches us:
Sin leads to separation from God
No amount of good behavior can erase that separation
Yet God freely offers forgiveness, life, and restoration
Grace is not:
Earned
Achieved by self-improvement
A reward for good behavior
Grace is a gift.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God, not a result of works.” — Ephesians 2:8–9
Our Condition Before Grace
Rich walked us through Ephesians 2, which describes humanity’s condition apart from Christ:
Spiritually dead
Following the ways of the world
Controlled by sinful desires
Separated from God
But then Scripture shifts with two powerful words:
“But God…”
Because of His mercy and great love:
God makes us alive in Christ
God restores what sin has broken
God initiates renewal before we ever ask for it
Restoration always starts with God—not us.
Grace Illustrated: Depending on the Rescuer
Rich shared an illustration from big-wave surfing to explain grace.
Early surfers depended solely on:
Their own strength
Skill and experience
Personal endurance
Many didn’t survive.
Over time, surfers learned the necessity of:
Rescue teams
Tow-in partners
External help when wiped out
In the same way, spiritual restoration happens when we stop relying on ourselves and trust the One who rescues us.
Grace means:
Letting go of self-reliance
Admitting we need help
Trusting God to pull us out when life overwhelms us
Restoration Begins with Honesty
Just like recovery begins with admission, spiritual restoration starts with honesty.
We must acknowledge:
Our sin
Our need for forgiveness
Our inability to save ourselves
Scripture is clear:
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Grace meets us when we stop pretending and start surrendering.
Why Good Works Can’t Save Us
Rich addressed several common misconceptions about salvation:
“If my good outweighs my bad, I’ll be okay.”
“Sincerity matters more than truth.”
“I’ll follow Jesus later—after I fix myself.”
Scripture tells a different story:
Salvation is not earned
Faith is not a balancing scale
Jesus is not just Savior—He is Lord
God responds not to self-effort, but to surrender.
Grace That Leads to a Restored Life
Grace is not the end of the journey—it’s the beginning.
1. Grace Becomes Personal
Restoration begins when grace moves from an idea to a lived experience.
2. Grace Shapes How We Live
Obedience and service are not attempts to earn God’s favor—they are responses of gratitude.
3. Grace Must Be Guarded
We protect grace by:
Knowing Scripture
Studying truth deeply
Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us
Truth anchors restoration.
Living a Restored Life
Rich closed with practical reminders of what restored living looks like:
Faith – trusting God beyond what we can see
Community – living connected, not isolated
Peace – confidence in chaos
Hope – assurance that God is not finished
God loves us exactly as we are—but He loves us too much to leave us there.
An Open Invitation to Restoration
Restoration is not a one-time event—it’s an ongoing invitation.
Whether you are:
Exploring faith for the first time
Or returning to God after a season of distance
Grace is still reaching for you.
Like reconnecting to the rescue line in heavy waters, restoration begins when we return to the One who restores, strengthens, and places us on a firm foundation.