ORIGAMI — The Art of Understanding Grace

ORIGAMI — Drawing Strength in Times of Difficulties

I remember when I was a child, my dad would buy 2 sets of origami books. I remembered the first time I opened it, worked on a page of that book. I would spend my time organizing and choosing the right color of paper to use for a specific paper folding output.

My dad would fondly watch me fold and finish an origami project. He would even ask me to show my work. “Pakita nga ng ginawa mo”. As a proud kid, I would gladly flaunt my work and say “Papa eto oh. Nagawa ko na”. If my dad notices I have done most of it, if not all of it, he would buy me another 2 set. “Tapos mo na lahat?”

There were times as well when I get frustrated for being able to finish an origami project because I did not understand the instructions. Often times, I do those projects on my own. Figure things out on my own. But when I really can seem to finish it and really felt upset about it, I would ran to my dad and ask for his help. “Papa paano to? Di ko maintindihan”.

He then carefully read through the instructions then patiently started to help me do it from scratch. Ever since then, I would do my projects with my dad nearby. Ready to ask him if I was doing it right.

As Christians, we go through the same situations. Trying to accomplish origami projects on our own. Trying to understand how things should go and then follow through. Often times, we take the credit when we’ve done so well. But when things get too overwhelming and unclear, we lose hope. We get frustrated. We falter. We often beg off and ask the Lord to remove us from those situations. Like a child, we run to Him for help. We run to Him and ask for a clear direction. But do we only recognize Him when things aren’t doing well? Do we only need Him when things are too heavy to carry?

Like a child who needs the guidance of his father, we too need God in every aspect of our lives. Not to make things easy. But to be able to understand that He is in control. He is Sovereign. We just have to surrender everything to Him. Draw near to Him in times of rejoicing or in times of pain.

Like that origami project I was not able to finish on my own when I was a kid, we too, can’t handle things on our own. His Grace is all we need. Not luck. Not our skills. Not our talents. Not our wisdom. But His Grace alone. Who allows. Who supplies.

2 Cor 12:9–10