Unexpected Grace
Grace. It’s one of those words that sounds like it belongs in a hymn or a greeting card—beautiful, but maybe not something we expect to find in a grocery line or while folding laundry. But here’s the surprise: grace isn’t rare. It’s everywhere. The problem? Most of us are moving so fast we blow right past it like it’s a mile marker on the highway.
Where We Struggle
Let’s be honest—we’re professional over-doers. We brag about being busy the way kids brag about who can burp the loudest. We measure success by how many tabs we can keep open in our brain at once. And in the rush, we struggle because we equate slowing down with falling behind.
As a bikini competitor, I know this trap by heart. My life has been a calendar of reps, cardio sessions, and meal prep containers. More, harder, faster—that’s the default mindset. But here’s the twist: my biggest gains didn’t happen on the gym floor. They happened in the stillness, when I gave my body space to recover. Muscles grow in rest. And so does our spirit.
Why We Don’t Experience Grace More
So why don’t we experience grace more often? Because grace doesn’t knock down the door. It slips in quietly—through a random smile, a pause between breaths, or even the sweet relief of a canceled meeting. We don’t miss it because it’s absent; we miss it because we’re too distracted to notice.
And sometimes, we outright reject it. We think, I don’t deserve this nap, this laugh, this moment of joy. But grace doesn’t operate on a rewards system. It’s not about earning. It’s about receiving. Grace shows up because we need it—not because we nailed our to-do list.
How We Get It
So how do we actually make room for this unexpected guest called grace?
The Peaceful Pause. Schedule stillness like it’s an appointment with your future self. Five minutes of quiet can feel like plugging your soul into a charger.Shifts and Changes. Life transitions crack us open in uncomfortable but beautiful ways. Divorce, empty nests, new chapters, or—hello—deciding to strut across a bikini stage at 61. Change isn’t just disruption; it’s an invitation for grace to show up.Micro-Kindness. Grace hides in the little stuff. Sending a “thinking of you” text, holding the door, or smiling at the guy who just cut you off in traffic (okay, trying to smile). These tiny gestures ripple back into us.Prayer and Meditation. These are the portals where we stop performing and start receiving. Prayer expands our hearts. Meditation roots us in the present. Both turn down the noise long enough for grace to slip in with a wink.
The Gift of Stillness
Here’s the kicker: stillness isn’t empty. It’s full of possibility. Rest is where the miracle happens. I used to think success was all about how hard I could push. Now I know the real transformation happens when I pause long enough to let grace catch up.
Sometimes grace looks dramatic—like the moment I stepped onstage, floodlights blazing, and realized I wasn’t just flexing muscles, I was flexing resilience. But more often, it shows up quietly—like a laugh that lightens the room, or the peace of an unhurried breath.
Grace doesn’t need to shout. It only needs us to notice. And when we do, we discover that life is kinder, lighter, and far more magical than we ever imagined.
So here’s my invitation: stop hustling long enough to let grace sneak in. Rest your muscles. Rest your mind. Rest your soul. Because grace is already on its way—it just needs you to open the door.
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