Perspectives by

Zerayn D.

Grace, why it is so?

“Grace, glorious grace…
Grace, wonderful grace…”

These lines are from a song written by Planetshakers, a contemporary worship music band from Australia.

One Sunday morning, the preacher was talking about the grace of God. It has covered our sins. Its value transcends so many aspects of life. The concept of grace is beyond our comprehension, as it urges us constantly of why it is so?

The statement that struck me lingered. She mentioned that there is no direct translation of the word “grace” in Khmer language. As a result, it takes careful attention of language and context to explain it. That moment pinned a challenge within me. I told myself, “ I want the unbelievers around me to find grace. In finding grace, it shall lead them to its author.”

Who is grace?

Hebrews 12:2 GOD’S WORD Translation
“We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God.”

Jesus, our Lord, is the very embodiment of grace—grace made visible and real. We see it in the way He spoke. It is evident in how He carried Himself. We notice it in the way He treated people. Ultimately, it is in all that He accomplished. Grace is such an incredible mystery and gift, and deep down, I long for someone to truly discover it—or better yet, to be found by it. That longing stirred a passion in me—to help someone close to me experience what grace really is.

What is grace to me?

Just to give you a bit of background—I work with a Khmer assistant. At the beginning, it was really tough to communicate. It was our first time working together, and we were still figuring each other out. There were definitely some communication hurdles. Over time, though, we found ways to understand each other better. But I’ll be honest, it took a lot of effort on my part to bridge that gap. I had to swallow my pride more than once, especially when the situation started affecting me emotionally.

Thankfully, we’ve reached a point where there’s some familiarity and mutual understanding. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was putting in most of the work. It felt like I was giving it my all, while she wasn’t really matching that energy. Even so, we made it through the year without any major conflict—and that in itself felt like a small win. I saw it as a chance to let her experience grace.

Eventually, I stopped expecting her to meet me halfway. I just decided to offer grace, regardless. I chose to be more candor, made sure she felt comfortable doing her job, and gave her space to work in peace. When things didn’t go as planned, I held back my frustration. I tried to create a safe space where she could reflect and grow. I acknowledged what she did well, even though there’s still plenty she can improve on. I made sure she felt affirmed, and to end the year on a kind note, I gave her a small gift she wasn’t expecting.

Through all of this, my hope is that she’ll start to notice the grace she’s been given—and be curious about it. I hope she will search for grace. I hope she will wonder why she receives the greater good with her very least effort. And when she starts looking for grace, maybe, just maybe, that curiosity will lead her to discover the true source of grace. ❤