Grace in the Pace

Paula Walker-Carrano
Jan 1
5 min read

Updated: Jan 3

“But these things I plan won’t happen right away.

Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.

If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass.

Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” (Habakkuk 2:3 TLB)

As we move into a new year, by nature we will move into it with great expectations set upon ourselves to meet goals that we either newly set or that we didn’t quite meet in the previous year or years.

With this, we sometimes give ourselves permission to start anew, almost as though what was or wasn’t doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of pressing into new beginnings; negating those fading handwritten etchings of last year’s list.

When the clock strikes midnight, we blow our proverbial paper trumpets and welcome the new year in; a proclamation that something amazing is breaking forth and what no longer serves us has fallen off, lost in the midst of the party favours tossed into the garbage bin.

Proclaiming, “This is my year!”

The hourglass of 365 days is turned over once again (+1 for leap years), and somehow we convince ourselves that this is the year of jubilee; failing to see that perhaps God has been unfolding your very vision over a five and not a one year plan.

About the “fading handwritten etchings of last year’s list”…

What I’m asserting here is that while we may not have completely lost sight of the list, what we have somehow failed to see are those steps — incremental or not — that led us that much closer to our goals.

You know, “the journey”, as often referred to.

There are a lot of things I could share here and I am certain that many readers are thinking about those very things.

Void of sounding cliche, there really is nothing more I could say that hasn’t already been said or scribed profoundly in some way.

That said, what will never grow old or lose its infinite wisdom (meant to be redundant there) is the promise and the word of God.

Recently, I have been having some very deep conversations with Christian friends about that very thing; the word of God.

The issue: it was written by man, interpreted by many more a man, and has since landed into many churches and collectives headed up by man-kind.

So, how do we know which interpretation or translation or man to trust?

That’s rhetorical, as I honestly do not have an answer.

Instead, I will share with you what one of my dear friends told me that aligns with my own interpretation: “Focus on your own relationship [journey] with Jesus [Holy Spirit indwelling] and follow what is put [intuitively, spiritually] on your heart [bringing a peace that passes all understanding, while imparting great understanding and wisdom].”

Yes, I amplified that. But, sometimes I like the amplified version as it gives a bit of a thesaurus way of interpreting or looking at things.

Back to the word.

How can we take the man-scribed word, while inspired [imparted, channelled] by the Holy Spirit, and make it applicable to our human nature?

Might I suggest we read it in as many translations or versions as we can, pray about it, repeat all aforementioned, then be still and know how it is applicable to our life and the journey He has us on; leading us to our very life’s resolutions set upon us from our first conception and played out exactly in perfect and divine time (Habakkuk 2:3, as the Holy Spirit leads us to see).

Perhaps then, those paper trumpet blows, firework shows, and streams of confetti throws should be in celebration of the year that passed and all those things we learned along “the journey” which is leading us that much closer to our life’s resolution list.

The list that never fades, as it’s etched in our soul’s commitment and surrender to the completion of the work He began in us from birth.

There is more on my heart to share, but I instead want to leave you with the lyrics of one of our songs, “Grace in the Pace” which I believe speaks to how we can attend to those expectations we put upon ourselves each new year.

Additionally, I am sharing an unlisted video link to a generic guided meditation piece I created in 2018.

Again, please insert — in those places you know I am speaking of God and not the universe — what resonates as Holy Spirit truth on your heart.

In the unfolding year and years to come, may He grant you the desires of your heart, but in His perfect will and time,

Paula

Grace In The Pace

He waits, longing to be gracious to me

Lifts Himself up, having mercy on me

Our Lord, He is a God of justice

Blessed and fortunate, are those who wait for Him

For His victory, His favour, His love

His peace, His joy

And His matchless unbroken companionship

The things He plans won’t happen right away

Slowly, but surely He’ll fulfill each one, one day

So, I’ll fight the good fight, hold faith in each race

As He gives me grace in the pace

I wait, and He will renew my strength

I will mount up, on wings as eagles and soar

He alone, is my rock my fortress

Why should I have fear when troubles come for me?

For His victory, His favour, His love

His peace, His joy

And His matchless unbroken companionship

The things He plans won’t happen right away

Slowly, but surely He’ll fulfill each one, one day

So, I’ll fight the good fight, hold faith in each race

As He gives me grace in the pace

The things He plans won’t happen right away

Slowly, but surely He’ll fulfill each one, one day

So, I’ll fight the good fight, hold faith in each race

As He gives me grace in the pace

I let go of the reigns