Journeying in Grace

1 Samuel 16:1–13; Ephesians 5:8–14

“Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” (1 Samuel 16:12).

 ^“For once you were darkness, but now… You are light. Walk as children of light.” (Eph. 5:8). 

Today, we continue our Lenten journey with a reflection on the importance of God’s grace during this season of spiritual renewal, as we examine today’s scripture readings. In 1 Samuel 16, we see grace finding David in a field. In Ephesians 5, grace calls believers out of darkness and into light. These passages illustrate that grace is dynamic; it moves, transforms, awakens, and sends.

In 1 Samuel 16:1-7, we see grace meeting us where we are, much like David. Samuel arrives in Bethlehem grieving because Saul has failed, leaving Israel unstable. He is disappointed, confused, and uncertain about what comes next. Then God instructs him, saying, “Fill your horn with oil and go.” This command highlights first that grace begins with action; it starts with God stepping into our stuck places. As Jesse’s sons pass by, they appear strong, impressive, and kingly. Samuel thinks, “Surely this is the one.” But God interrupts him, saying, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at…” While people focus on outward appearances—such as height, strength, résumé, and reputation—God looks at the heart.

And grace goes to find David—the youngest, the forgotten one, the one still out with the sheep. David wasn’t invited to the lineup. David wasn’t considered worthy of consideration. David wasn’t even on the radar. But grace sees what others overlook.

Some of us know what it feels like to be overlooked. Some of us know what it feels like to be underestimated. Some of us know what it feels like to be stuck in a field, while others are being chosen. But hear this today: Grace knows your name. Grace knows your location. Grace knows your heart. Grace meets you where you are—even if where you are doesn’t look impressive.

Second, Grace shapes us into who we are becoming. David is anointed king—but he does not become king that day. He goes back to the field. Back to the sheep. Back to the ordinary. The anointing is immediate. The shaping is gradual. Grace anoints in a moment but forms over a lifetime. David’s journey of grace includes victories and failures, psalms and battles, courage and brokenness, repentance, and renewal. Grace isn’t a shortcut. It’s a shaping process.

Some people want the crown without the pasture. But the pasture is where God builds the heart that can carry the crown. Grace forms us in hidden places. Grace shapes us in quiet seasons. Grace prepares us long before it promotes us. If you feel like you’re in a pasture season—hidden, unseen, waiting—don’t despise it. God is forming something in you that will matter later.

Third, Grace awakens us to walk as children of Light: In Ephesians 5:8–14 Paul says something remarkable: “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” He doesn’t say we were in darkness. He says we were darkness. And now we are light. Grace changes our identity before it changes our behavior. But identity leads to calling: “Walk as children of light.”

Grace is not passive. Grace is not stagnant. Grace is not merely comfort—it is calling.

Walking in the light means:

•           letting God expose what needs healing

•           letting God awaken what has fallen asleep

•           letting God guide our steps into what is good, right, and true

Paul quotes what many believe was an early Christian hymn: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Grace is God’s wake‑up call. Grace shakes us out of spiritual sleep. Grace pulls us out of old patterns. Grace invites us into a new way of living.

Some of us today need that awakening.

Some of us have been drifting.

Some of us have been dimming our light.

Some of us have been spiritually asleep.

Grace says, “Wake up. Rise up. Walk in the light.”

Fourth,  Grace sends us forward with purpose. David’s journey begins with anointing. Our journey begins with awakening. David is chosen to lead Israel. We are chosen to reflect Christ. David is empowered by the Spirit. We are filled with the Spirit. David is sent back to the field with a new purpose. We are sent into the world as children of light. Grace does not leave us where it found us. Grace sends us into the world as bearers of God’s presence. Wherever you go—your home, your job, your relationships, your community—you carry the light of Christ.

We are therefore commissioned to walk the Road of Grace. This journey means:

•           Seeing ourselves through God’s eyes, not human eyes

•           Allowing God to shape us in hidden places

•           Walking as children of light in a dark world

•           Living awake, alive, and responsive to God’s call

Grace is not only the beginning of our story; it is the journey we embark on each day. Grace acts as our companion along the way and serves as the light that guides us forward. We are not deemed worthy because of our own righteousness; rather, grace finds us and walks with us throughout our earthly journey. We are truly on a journey of grace during this Lent and beyond!

Let us pray: “Lord, thank You for meeting us where we are, for seeing what others overlook,

for shaping us in hidden places, and for calling us into Your light. Awaken us, strengthen us, and lead us as we journey in Your grace. Amen.”