"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 1:14 (NIV)
Jesus didn't just visit; He moved in. The word "dwelt" in Greek is eskēnōsen, meaning He pitched His tent. God didn't make a brief appearance and then return to heaven. He set up camp in our neighborhood and stayed. That changes everything about how we show grace to difficult people.
A tent isn't a hotel room you check into overnight. It's where you make yourself available for the long haul. When you pitch a tent, you're committing to be present through storms. You're saying, "I'm not leaving when things get uncomfortable." Jesus tabernacled with humanity for over three decades, not three hours.
Most of us prefer drive-by grace to dwelling grace. We'll send a text but won't have the hard conversation. We'll drop off a meal but won't sit in the mess. We'll pray from a distance but won't show up in person. But grace that transforms requires faithful presence, not occasional appearances. Athanasius said it well: "He became what we are that He might make us what He is."
Real presence always costs something, and Jesus knew that cost. He came to His own people, and they rejected Him anyway. His family misunderstood Him; His friends betrayed Him; religious leaders mocked Him. Yet He stayed, dwelling among those who would eventually crucify Him. Grace made itself vulnerable to all of that pain.
Still, dwelling grace is not blind endurance. Faithful presence does not mean tolerating violence, abuse, or harm. When a relationship becomes unsafe, toxic, or abusive, wisdom may require stepping back or leaving altogether. Staying is about obedience and love, not enabling sin or suffering in silence. Faithfulness includes wisdom, boundaries, and, at times, the courage to step away.
Where are you tempted to pack up your tent and leave? Perhaps this season, it is time to stay and do what God wants you to do. Which relationship feels too hard to keep showing up for? Who keeps hurting you despite your faithful presence? What family gathering makes you want to stay home this Christmas? Dwelling grace doesn't guarantee appreciation, but it does guarantee transformation.
Godseekers, you're called to pitch your tent in hard places. That difficult family member needs your steady presence, not your absence. That broken friendship needs your patient dwelling, not your distance. That lonely neighbor needs you to set up camp, not drive by. Stay when everything in you wants to leave. Dwell where Christ has dwelt with you: in the mess.
Prayer
You are the God who stays with us in love and truth. We thank You for pitching Your tent among broken humanity and for remaining faithful when we turned away. Teach us the difference between faithful presence and harmful compromise. Give us wisdom and discernment to know when to stay with grace, and when to step back for safety, especially in situations involving violence or abuse. This Christmas season, show us where You are calling us to dwell, and how to do so in ways that honor You and protect what You value. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- In which relationships am I tempted to keep my distance when God may be inviting me to show up with faithful presence and love?
- What fears or limitations hold me back (weariness, past wounds, feeling unappreciated), and how does Christ’s example help me respond with wisdom rather than avoidance?
- Are there relationships where boundaries, support, or distance may be the more faithful response in this season?
Step of Faith
Today, I will prayerfully identify one relationship where God is calling me to show a healthier, more consistent presence, and take a wise next step that reflects both love and discernment during this Christmas season.
