Quiet Grace by Nicole Johnson
Oct 10th, 2008 by wof
When I read this story of Jesus healing the leper, I wonder at Jesus’ instructions to the healed man. “See that you tell no one?” The man had been healed of leprosy. Like his friends and family weren’t going to notice?
“Fred, what in the world happened to you?!”
“Oh, nothing. Just the same old, same old.”
I’ve always been curious as to why Jesus told people he healed not to talk about the healing. And he said it often. If he healed someone or had some sort of dramatic encounter, many times he admonished that person not to tell anyone what had happened.
It hardly seems fair to have such a life-changing experience and have to keep it to yourself. And with Jesus’ goal of having all men know of the love of God, wouldn’t it seem he would ask those who had been touched by him to shout it from the rooftops? But he rarely did. Often the ones who had received from him did broadcast it boldly, but not because he directed them to do so. No, more often than not, he asked them to keep it to themselves.
Why would he do such a thing?
Perhaps grace is most life changing when kept to ourselves for a time.
Before a company goes public by offering their stock for purchase, it must first go through what is called a “quiet period.” The SEC governs this, and during that time key executives are not allowed to talk about the company’s numbers or discuss the performance of the company at all. What they have to regulate is people in the company hyping a stock before the offering. Hopefully this keeps consumers from making huge mistakes by believing in a company that might not be worth investing in.
Maybe there is a thought here worth pondering: before we go public, maybe we should first go private.
Too often in our evangelical desire to communicate the incredible grace of God, we do a disservice to that grace by forgoing any “quiet period.” We miss the internal gifts that would come from having to keep something so valuable to ourselves before we share it. The idea is not that we don’t ever share what God has done for us; it is that we learn some lessons in the quiet period of grace before we try to communicate it to others.
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t tell others about what Jesus has done for us, but perhaps we should take the time to ponder what exactly it is that he has done before we face the world with the news. Often the pondering produces the kind of the depth that will sustain us when the public offering begins to take its toll. Otherwise, we might end up like the seed that immediately sprouts up without sending down deep roots and soon withers in the heat of the noonday sun.
Personally, I’m a little suspicious of people who come on too strongly in their communication, of anything really. Whether it’s the gospel or Tupperware, I’m generally turned off by hype and overzealousness. My attorney husband is fond of saying, “When the facts are on your side, pound the facts. When the law is on your side, pound the law. When neither is on your side, pound the podium.”
A second thought about why Jesus might have asked those he healed not to tell anyone about it is that he didn’t want people comparing their stories or their healings. Isn’t it human nature to compare? To want the same thing someone else has even though our situation might be different? Perhaps
Jesus wanted to avoid that all together, reminding us that it is grace that he does anything for us at all.
Grace is a one-of-a-kind experience. It’s not one-size-fits-all. Remember how many different methods Jesus used to heal people? He hardly ever did the same thing twice—in fact, I’m not sure he ever did. Sometimes he used mud, sometimes a loud voice to heaven, sometimes a set of instructions, sometimes he just sent people on their way—each encounter being unique to the person and the circumstances.
A number of years ago in an original drama, I portrayed a cashier working at convenience store near a local fishing spot. About seven in the morning, an old man came into the store and got an iced tea. The man discovered upon checking out that he’d forgotten his wallet. He bemoaned the fact that he’d left it on his dresser and turned to put the tea back in the cooler. The cashier waved him out the door with his iced tea and told him she’d take care of it, and not to worry about it. On his way out the door, she admonished, “But don’t you tell anybody I did that!”
About 2 p.m. that very afternoon, another man comes in and puts an iced tea down on the counter. He reaches for his money and pulls his empty pockets inside out. “I can’t seem to find my wallet,” he mutters a little too conveniently. The cashier doesn’t even smile as she tells the young man to get on his way. He snarls at her, saying that she shouldn’t be giving away iced tea if she doesn’t want everyone to have it.
Maybe that cashier was a lot like Jesus. Maybe Christ didn’t want to offer what he had to people who expected it. Maybe he wanted to show us that grace ceases to be grace if it is expected or demanded. It can’t be calculated, predicted, or measured, or it becomes something else that Jesus wasn’t offering.
Grace has to be free, unexpected, and undeserved to really be grace.
But don’t tell anyone.
Excerpted with permission from Infinite Grace: The Devotional, © 2008 Patsy Clairmont, Mary Graham, Nicole Johnson, Carol Kent, Marilyn Meberg, Sandi Patty, Jan Silvious, Luci Swindoll, Sheila Walsh, Thelma Wells. All Rights Reserved.
HI Women of Faith,
I like you all. You are so wonderful and nice. You are a blessing to me.
I like to read your stories online. I like the stories of your lifes and of the ladies that go to your conference.
Why don’t you come to Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.
You would be a great blessings here.
Thank you for your work and faith.
God bless you all.
And maybe sometime we will meet.
Sorry, for my English, it’s not so good.
Bye, bye, and continue the good work for the Lord
Eunice Pieternelle-Barrientos from the Island of Curacao
Hi Nicole:
Your thoughts here are interesting and challenging. I can’t help but think that the farther along I go with Jesus the more willing I am for that ‘quiet period.’ Perhaps it comes with a bit of maturity, or at least sorrow over blurting out something too soon. One of my favorite saying: “There wasn’t a thought that come into her mind that didn’t come out of her mouth!” (~;
I was a Women of Faith, Anaheim this fall. It was my first encounter. I was absolutely taken with your performance - above everything else. What a precious gift God has given you for the benefit of many.
God bless your ministry - Gretchen
I think that another reason Jesus often told recipients of his miracles not to tell anybody was because he did not want personal praise. He wanted all glory to go to his Father God.
I am looking forward to attending the conference in Glendale, AZ in November.
Maybe by revealing God’s grace it maks it a little less special to the revealer. This is the grace given to me by God I will rejoice and be glad in it, then I will tell you where to get some of your own. (just a thought)
I think that is so awesome! I really connect witht the idea of the cashier. Grace does seem to be expected sometimes. I forget the scripture, but when Jesus says I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy, and I forget the rest, but I believe that could be the same way. We should not expect, what we feel Jesus should give us. He knows our hearts and what we could do with what He gives. Thanks for your emails.
What a wonderful way to start a Saturday morning, or any day for that matter. Just received the email and enjoyed my quite time reading your words. How true they are. Most like me seldom take the moments necessary to reflect on specific messages due to our busy schedules and life patterns. Your example was “right on” and one everyone can relate to. GRACE, what an amazing word. If everyone would just fully understand its power, the world would be a much better place. Until then, those who do understand need to find ways to share their knowledge and experience, one whisper at a time. Your last six lines have been etched into my heart. I plan to share with all who will listen, and some that won’t, but in a way most will understand. Thank you for being the beacon God has intended you to be and using your talents to praise him. Looking forward to Women of Faith 09~
I just want to thank each of you at Woman of Faith. I was at a conference earlier in the year and was very blessed. Sometimes we all expect grace even when we don’t deserve it! I really enjoy listening to Nicole and watching her dramas. They are so wonderful and touching. She really gets the point across.
I was also able to relace to Sandi Patty. She was very helpful to me.
Thank you to all of you Women! God bless you all!!
Thanks Nicolle,
That was very good. I have gone to W.O.F. for as long as you ladies have had it, the first one being in Cincinnati, Ohio. Not to toot my horn, but I have introduced so many ladies to the W.O.F. It started way back to my old church, that someone started us going. I then switched churches, & let the minister’s wife know about it, soon she got a group of ladies going. This was our 5th year as a group going. I take my daughter-in-laws with me. My daughter lives in Texas, & I tell her about it, plus give her video conferences. Her & a friend have been going now, too. So some things are worth telling. LOL . The main reason I’m writing you is that our church has a web site, & we have a portion there called the ladies corner. You click in the Ladies corner, & you go to “Thoughts on That” It is just articles just like you did now, with comments. I usually write them, but I was putting one from Notes from Shelia on it, that she e-mailed me, & this one of yours , I wanted to also. Is that allowed ? I’m not selling anything, we are just a country church, & we let them know where it came from. But I wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing anything wrong first. Also in our ladies corner is a part where it says, “Chics pics” That is a library of W.O.F. video conferences that I have, & ask people if they want to borrow them, to le me know, is that allowed also? I’ve been wanting to ask, but never knew who, until now. W.O. F. ladies, I know have sacrificed so much to get the Word out to us ladies, you have shared your life with us. If you could only see the changes it did to our little country church. How bold & proud the ladies are. It’s like they have a voice too. It is nice to be taught by men, our pastors, but women have a side that men don’t even begin to know how to go to, & you ladies have so opened the door on that. Thank you so much.
Grace is not grace if it is expected not given and excepted freely without strings attached.
Thank you for your incite and inspiration.
Thanks for your encouraging words, Nicole. You know, I have been “expecting” to be surprised by God’s grace for a few years now but that is because I spent so very many years thinking I didn’t deserve it or that I might do something to result in it being taken away from me. I guess the difference has been that I am always expecting it but I am always totally surprised and awe struck by it when it shows up. You are so right on about how He always gives us the “customized” version of what we need. That is so very cool. Thanks for your service to all of God’s kids. I’m so grateful to be one.
Grace should be from God not what we expect him to do. It may come in a little package or a big one but it is the love through Gods loveing ways and the dieing of his son on the cross to save us all. I know I often get caught us in whats going on around in the world but through the love and grace of Gods love I grt back on tract.
Thank you for you words of wisdom through God. Its not what we want but what God wants for us .
Nicole~You are such a beautiful child of God and through the stories you share, I feel connected. When I have difficulty in my life and I least expect it…God shows up with all of the answers. His grace is such a gift and not one of us women in this world could say we don’t like to be surprised. His love is so grand! I want to tell the world of my life changing experience on Sept 23-27th, 2008, but I know that God only wants me to share the part of “have trust and faith in Him, He will bring peace and wellness through your belief.” You will all “Get It” when it happens to you~ Every person has a different walk with Christ and this is why He made us all special and different in each way~ He loves us all just the same and wants us to find good in every situation that we encounter. I have in my walk and I trust Him that I am right where He wants me to be…After 8 units of blood in a two day period, I beg each of you healthy women to donate blood to lives that are waiting to be saved, it is such a blessing! In Christ~ Deb
Hello my family. When my friend, Carol, and I were on the cruise to Alaska with you this summer, we were told that we are “family” by Marilyn Meberg. After that cruise, I came to the conference in Denver. I have been before but never had such a feeling of belonging as I did then. You are all precious and I’m looking forward to seeing you in Jacksonville, FL next year. I did however miss Luci in Denver. Thank you for such wonderful experiences. Love to you all.
Thank you for your writing and acting. This kind of goes along with what you said: Jesus was upset with people who wanted miracles as a sign; and it is made clear that a leader in the church is not to be a novice but to be understanding where of they speak and act. More to pray on, and on and on as we keep growing!
I went to my first women of faith this year in Spokane Washington. It was totally awsome. I could feel the Holy Spirt moving in every direction all around me. It was a very moving experence & you could really feel as well as know that the presence of Jesus was there with you. We came as a group of 70 women. It was all put together by our Pastors wife at Christ Our Redeemer Luthern Church in Sandpoint idaho. She is an obgyn Doctor so there were lots on nurses as well & we are all looking forward to the 2009 women of faith. Maybe you could have it once here in Sandpoint Idaho. We have a open spot right by the lake all fenced in with a stage where they have the festival at Sandpoint it would be awsome to have you all here in our town.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU & PEACE OF THE LORD BE WITH YOU ALL
MAXINE KOCK
you are great
Nicloe:
I have been attending WOF conferences for many years. Your insprational messages of God’s grace have carried me from every peak and valley that my life has had. You are so talented and I don’t have the words to tell you what a blessing that you have been to me. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.
In His Name,
Jennifer Ray
Hi, Nicole, I, too, had these questions about Jesus’ request for people not to tell of His miracles. I believe God’s grace to be most precious in my life. I do not want others deminishing that grace for any reason. I hold it dearly in my heart, and it’s just like you said, I learn from it. At times, God has put it upon my heart to tell somebody, and each time that has happened, it was for His purpose.
Funny I should receive this e-mail fromn Women of Faith. I just watched a Jesus movie on TBN last night and was wondering this same question about why Jesus told the little girl he awoke from the dead not to tell anyone. Previously, and for a month or more, I’ve been struggling in my faith about God’s seeming silence in a situation that has left me rather depressed, something rather out of character (by His grace) for me.
He woke me up this morning with His Word and encouragement in my soul to encourage myself and that this too shall pass. This email from Women of Faith just confirmed that word to me and I thank God for bringing me to my first of your conferences in PA this September, which in itself was another miracle story doubly blessed by Nicole Mullen’s song ‘I know my Redeemer lives’! I could go on, but let me just say: God richly bless you all as you encourage the rest of us so we could be blessings too for others. Peace, Vida
There are times when God gives us the miracles, in which we are the only one to benifit from it, depending on how the miracle is given to you. It might not make sense from sombody elses ideals. It how God wanted to show me.
To me God Grace is a gift which he covers us with and the by-product is joy and peace.
I was at the Conference in Atlanta and your material was just wonderful which makes us have dig deeper in our life.
Hi Nicole!
As I’ve grown in my faith, I have realized the blessing I have received during that quiet period. I have often thought of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who after giving birth and receiving the shepherds and their proclamation of the angels, etc. she stored up all these treasures and “pondered them in her heart.” She took a quiet time to reflect and be blessed (and relax) before going on with the adventure of raising the Son of God.
Beautifully written. Important concept: “quiet period”. I needed to hear this.
Hi Nicole,
I have been coming to Women of Faith for six or more years now and I really am blessed each and every time I come. I see the power of God through you and each of your porch buddies. Your drama is a special gift from our Lord and I thank Him for you and ask His blessing on your ministry.
Your topic is very interesting and I will be praying for the Lord to enlighten me more and more.
Our God is very unique and awesome, so it should not be any wonder that He can deal so individually with each of us. Praise God for Women of Faith and may you continue to grow.
love in our Lord,
Christine
I have often thought that another reason that Jesus told people not to tell anybody was because he had a certain time on this earth to be about his Father’s business. He knew there were those out to kill him. By telling people not to tell, it slowed down the Pharisees from overtaking him sooner as he knew it wasn’t his time to die yet.
Nicole,
After being diagnosed with cervical cancer, all I wanted to do after telling my husband was crawl into a hole. But on my way to my husbands office, I gave it to the lord, and never told anyone. I made it through surgery and the surgeon was suprised that I healed so fast. It was all God’s doing. I thank him every day for him being there.
As an Associate member of women of Faith I enjoy the newsletters. It keeps me up on what everyone is doing.
In Christ Love
June Geiger
Columbia City, In
I have had my own experience of telling “too much”…” too soon”…”to the wrong person”. Maybe Jesus knew we are still like little kids in a way ” mine…(fill in the blank) is better than yours” He truly knows how competitive we can be too. When I have “let it all out too soon” it almost felt like the miracle that was given to me was diminished in some way. I don’t get any less excited when the Lord gives me something. As I’ve matured I try to do as Mary did and “ponder it in my heart” Then once it has settled in, I can share it or not. At times it is just too precious to do so.
I also like the idea of tailor-made gifts made for you and me. Isn’t that so like God?
Well I’ve got to go because Jesus is at my door and I see He has a gift with my name on it and I’m not tellin’
I love the way you bring the word of life to me (ok and others)..you are all like christ…with every breath you take the WOF are awesome and reading this makes me realize more and more it is Gods time , so to be ready for he is here so very very near. As I thank you all very very much for all you share and how much you care..I am so excited about the newsletters every month and for the news of the conferences for they truly change lives . I can hardly wait for 2009 in Des Moines we are bringing a group of 25-40 woman some old timers..and some first timers..thanks again and God bless.. and guess what I am a convience store clerk and you are correct..about the reference in the parable to real life..so I sure there shall be more grace poured out to my customers.Love from your sister in Christ. Edie
I agree with your opinion as to why Jesus told the people he healed to not tell. I never really thought about it until you brought it to my attention. I do believe that when things happen in our life and we see the hand of Jesus how he personally shape our life, we need to stop and meditate to make sure we do not skip over the lesson. Some times we get so excited that we tend to do just that and miss the whole purpose. You see I never knew this until I started seeking a more closer relationship with Jesus. Now in everything I do, think, or happen in my life, I remind myself what is the lesson behind all this. I try to keep my eyes open and ears sharp so that I do not miss the lesson.
Hi Nicole,
I must say, this story really spoke to me today! I have had the opportunity to hear you in person many times at about 5 different Women of Faith events. This was the first time I read about the cashier who was a lot like Jesus. I must admit, I never really understood why Jesus would always say, “See that you would tell no one,” until you explained things through your story today. Thank you for opening my eyes! You are a gift from God and I am so blessed to have heard how He uses you for His glory!
Your Sister in Christ!
WOF, yes we all need the “quiet period”. I never understood why Jesus told them not to tell anyone. But as I’ve grown in God’s Word, I’ve come to understand better. As I’ve also learned some very hard life lessons I’ve come to understand even more so and enjoy God’s Grace. Now I’m in a position to share it with the world through those same experiences. I went to WOF in Tampa with women of my church Tradewinds for the first time and met Nicole Mullins! What a fabulous woman with a voice of inspiration on her! I can’t wait for next year!
Hi Everyone,
I have been to one of your concerts and was so inspired! I have tried to come to another but have not financial been able to do so, so I read your articles online.
I have suffered with depression for the many turmoils I have had to deal with in my life, but whenever I read your articles you not only make me smile you inspire me to know that God does love me, regardless of what is given to us on this earth to deal with.
I love you all and hope you will always be there to continue your special journey on this earth…which is inspiring hurting individuals like me!
Truly grateful,
I love going to Women of Faith conference in Atlanta. It is the highlight of my year with the ladies I go to church with. We plan very carefully. I am always a little disappointed when Nicole does not come. She is my favorite. I love all the ladies. But Nicole touches me in many ways. I still enjoy her skits; I make sure to buy her DVDs. Nicole you are a blessing. Thanks for all you do.
I liked Nicole’s comments. Especially about learning from quite times before sharing with others and letting the seed develope roots. I had to smile when I read “There wasn’t a thought that came into her mind that didn’t come out of her mouth.” Some times we do speak before we think.
I have not read the book yet, but after reading the comments, I sure will order a copy.
God’s Blessings, Lynn