Common Grace in Uncommon Times

In times like these, Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood often quoted his mother’s advice to “look for the helpers”—the public servants and countless volunteers who help alleviate the pain and distress of others. These helpers are part of God’s common grace that extends to all people.

Separate from saving grace, common grace is the universal, unmerited kindness of God to sinners.

Across nations and cultures, people value love, kindness, compassion, and helpfulness because all are created in God’s image and have the capacity to understand and exhibit, to at least some extent, the attributes of our Creator.

In a fallen state, people can commit terrible sins against each other and God. We all deserve judgment. But God’s common grace withholds the full extent of his judgment, giving mercy and with it the opportunity to know him and receive saving grace (Acts 17:28; Romans 2:4). In these troubling times, believers can praise God for the good he allows and find comfort in his truly amazing grace that will hold all things together until he comes again to make all things new.