From Dread to Grace

Joel Balin
2 days ago
4 min read

Dread! More like fear. Or terror. Really, just trepidation—that sinking, stomach-tightening feeling.

It all started because my birthday fell on Thanksgiving this year. Great for turkey and family. Not great for remembering that my driver’s license would expire that day. Trace reminded me—gently, repeatedly, prophetically, for 2 months. But had I done it? Nope. Nada.

So two days after Thanksgiving, I’m driving to a prayer meeting with an expired license, a tank full of fear, and a suddenly overactive imagination. And the Department of Driver Services? Closed for the entire holiday weekend… and Monday!!!

Instantly, my brain switched from “Praise the Lord” to “Police alert.”

Every mirror check felt like I was being hunted. Every car behind me felt like an unmarked cruiser.

I thought, “Oh no… if I get pulled over, I’m going to jail. Like Paul and Silas, except without the hymn singing.”

“And if they fine me thousands of dollars, I’m gonna need Jesus to have me pull a coin from a fish’s mouth.”

And as I’ve thought more times than I can count: “Trace told me… why didn’t I listen to Trace?”

For the next five days, I drove like the poster child for perfect obedience. No snacks. No phone. No changing shoes or lanes. No drifting even one mile per hour over the limit.

Trace, of course, had researched the consequences ahead of time, and her warnings echoed: “Joel, the fine could be big… You could get in real trouble—even jail time.” My internal monologue added its own dramatic flair: “Great. I’ll be the guy who gets arrested for procrastinating.”

Finally, Tuesday came. The driver’s license bureau reopened. I walked in bracing for bureaucracy, boredom, and maybe a stern lecture. But instead — bada bing, bada boom — fifteen minutes later, I walked out with a new license, no fine, no jail time, and even a halfway decent photo.

I was relieved, but realized: dread had drained the joy from an entire weekend — and none of it was necessary. Fear had hijacked my peace. Anxiety had stolen my anticipation.

Living “under the law” overshadowed everything else.

And the Holy Spirit reminded me:

“This is how it feels when you live under the law instead of under My grace.”

The law squeezes you. Grace frees you.
The law makes you look over your shoulder. Grace makes you look to your Savior.
The law magnifies dread. Grace multiplies delight.

If we let the law drive us, grace can’t guide us. (Gal 5:4)

Grace alone belongs in the driver’s seat.

And here’s what grace does — every mile, every moment, every day.

Grace Sets Us Free

Grace breaks the chains the law could only point out. It moves us from white-knuckle fear into Spirit-led freedom.

“For the law of from the law of sin and death.” — Romans 8:2the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” — Romans 6:14

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works” — Eph 2:8-9

Grace sets us free—works just wear us out. Grace grants what grit can’t gain.

Grace Defeats Dread

Dread thrives under the law—always checking the mirror, always wondering if we’re “in trouble.” Grace drives out that fear by rooting us in God’s love and steady presence.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…” — 1 John 4:18 NIV

“The God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." — 1 Peter 5:10

Grace silences dread and strengthens delight.

Grace Empowers Us

Grace isn’t permission; it’s power. It doesn’t push us toward sin — it pulls us out and lifts us into the life God intended.

“…the word of his grace, which is powerful to build you up” — Acts 20:32

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” — Titus 2:11–12 NIV

Grace doesn’t excuse us — Grace forgives and equips us.

Grace Is Always With Us

Grace isn’t an occasional visitor. It rides with us, walks with us, covers us, and meets us in every moment—especially the ones we dread.

“So let us keep on coming boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” — Hebrews 4:16

"For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace" — John 1:16

Grace is not seasonal — it’s continual.

In every situation, on every road, in every moment, God’s grace is there. We’re no longer living under the law — we’re walking in His freedom, fueled by His power, protected by His presence.

And yes… I still prefer meeting police officers over coffee and donuts rather than in my rearview mirror.

So let’s be grace warriors—

to worship the God who frees us,

to praise Jesus who saves us,

and to walk in the Holy Spirit who empowers us.

Let’s step into His amazing grace—always there, always enough, always ours.