Blog 5/ The Soft Strength of Grace: Finding Peace and Purpose in Life’s Bitter Moments
Life does not always brew the way we expect it to. We plan, we pour, and still, things spill. But grace is what steadies the hand.
Some days, life can taste as bitter as coffee grounds.
Disappointment. Delay. Discomfort. The unexpected moments that leave us questioning why things turned out the way they did — and how we will ever make sense of it all.
But I have learned that much like a good cup of coffee, what is bitter can still become beautiful — if we let grace do its work.
Grace in the Grind
Life does not always brew the way we expect it to.
We plan, we pour, and still, things spill. But grace is what steadies the hand.
Over the past season, I have faced my share of unfiltered moments — times when strength felt more like survival than triumph. And yet, even in the heaviness, I have discovered something sacred: grace does not erase the grind; it transforms it.
Grace is what lets us show up again, even when we feel unseen. It is what whispers peace into chaos and reminds us that even in the hardest moments, God’s hand is still stirring purpose into our cup.
Giving Ourselves Grace
It is easy to extend compassion to others — but giving it to ourselves often feels like the hardest pour.
We rush to fix, to perform, to prove. But grace says: Be still. Heal. Rest.
Maybe you have been hard on yourself for not being where you thought you should be. Maybe life poured too quickly, leaving you scrambling to clean up what spilled. Grace invites you to pause and taste again — to see that even the bitter moments have something to teach.
Because when we give ourselves grace, we open the door for growth. We begin to see that progress does not always look polished — sometimes it looks like persistence.
God’s Grace Always Brews on Time
There is a quiet strength in remembering that God’s grace is never late.
It shows up right when the cup feels empty — not to refill what was, but to create something new.
2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
That means our shortcomings do not disqualify us — they make room for His strength to shine through.
Grace is not passive; it is powerful. It softens the hard edges of life and strengthens us in ways success never could.
Final Sip
Life, much like coffee, requires time and patience to become what it is meant to be.
And while we cannot always control the bitterness of what is brewed, we can choose how we respond — with humility, with gratitude, and most importantly, with grace.
So, if your cup feels heavy today, remember:
God’s grace never expires.
Your story is still steeping.
And the same hand that allows the grind is the one preparing the pour.
May we move through each day with the soft strength of grace — for ourselves, for others, and for the journey still unfolding.
Blog 5/ The Soft Strength of Grace: Finding Peace and Purpose in Life’s Bitter Moments
Remember, bold conversations, brewed fresh — one cup at a time!
Dr. Courtney Nicole Johnson
Founder, CourtneyCoffeeChats
Bold Conversations, Brewed Fresh.
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