In the Margin: God’s Grace and Mercy

Scripture Reading:

“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in sin—it is by grace you have been saved.”
— Ephesians 2:4–5

Devotional:

Margins are where we scribble the unexpected. They’re the side spaces, the overflow, the quiet room between what was planned and what was possible. And often, it’s in the margin where God’s grace and mercy meet us most clearly.

When we fall short, grace is not withheld.
When we mess up, mercy doesn’t retreat.
God writes redemption in the parts of our lives we thought were too messy, too late, or too far gone.

Sometimes we move forward without knowing what our efforts will yield. We offer our work, our ideas, our obedience—and then we wait. In those in-between spaces, when we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and seek confirmation from the Lord, we are not alone. Between our action and the outcome, we find God in the margin—pouring out grace and mercy.

And in that space, He gives us what we need:

Joy in our work.
Discipline in our trades.
Humility in our service.
Accountability in our actions.
Patience and love in our hearts.

Grace meets us in our limits.
Mercy covers us in our failures.
Both are unearned, unmeasurable, and unwavering.

You don’t have to earn your way back into God’s favor. You’re already held. Not in the fine print. Not in the footnotes. But in the wide, holy margin of His love.

Reflection Question:

Where in your life do you feel “in the margin” right now, and how might God be showing up with grace and mercy there?

Challenge:

Today, write a note to yourself or someone else that speaks grace into a place of uncertainty. Let your words echo God’s voice of kindness and compassion.

Closing Prayer:

Lord, thank You for meeting me in the margins. For filling in the places I leave blank with Your unshakable grace and never-failing mercy. Help me to slow down and see You in the unplanned spaces of my life. Amen.

CmfrtHaus