On Promises
Gabrielle Tanksley
“Under the Law, the promises of God are contingent upon ‘If you obey all commandments.’ Under Grace, the promises of God, in Christ, are ‘Yes’ from God and ‘Amen’ from you.”
- John Mark Pantana in Love Secrets
I’ve got this.
My calendar is set.
My to-do list is organized.
Will - meet with church group
Will - serve on Sundays
Won’t - remember to seek Him
Daily
Will - begin to feel hollow
Begin the simple missing
God?
Yes?
I’m sorry.
one tear runs, two tears sprint
sobs spring from the presence—
the inexplicable weight of the Holy Spirit,
the lightness of relationship made right with God
I’ve missed you.
Where have you been?
I don’t know.
It wasn’t worth it.
But You know that.
Help me draw closer to you.
Yes.
Amen.
You’ve got this?
Yes.
Amen.
Time passes and passion fades
As the bright red stain of His blood
fades to salmon pink
my mind is overridden
with a self-righteous
lack of faith.
Time tenses and
my mind is overtaken-
the Law overrides Grace
a deformed, misguided
t
e
n
s
i
o
n
At the end of my rope,
I seek Grace.
God?
Yes?
Long time no see, huh?
I’m sorry.
silent tear trails
marks path down cheek to chin,
falls to folded hands.
You’ve been chasing me.
sobs shake shoulders in muted prayer,
a soul’s needy cry.
I forgive you,
Always.
Tears dry, a deep sigh,
a feeling I know to be
Peace.
Yes.
Amen.
Gabrielle Tanksley graduated from Brown in 2021 with a degree in Psychology.
