“Biyaya”

by Sis. Abigail Bico

Reading for the day: 2 Corinthians 12:9

Growing up as a 4th watcher, a term was always brought up in the church that deeply resonated with me – “biyaya.” It’s a simple word, yet it’s rich in meaning: “by the grace of God.” At first, I thought it was just a part of our culture, a phrase we used naturally, almost as a default. It was something we would say when we were thankful, acknowledging that all we had, all we were, came from God’s grace.

However, when I entered full-time ministry, the phrase took on a whole new depth of meaning. It wasn’t just a common expression anymore – it was the truth that sustained me in the hardest seasons. Grace became not only a concept, but a lifeline. And even today, as I reflect on this season of Christmas, it still resonates deeply with me.

We’ve all had those moments, haven’t we? Times when we felt like we were at the end of ourselves – the end of our strength, the end of our resources, the end of all we thought we could be. We might have tried to push through, but found ourselves falling short, completely exhausted. But it is precisely in those moments when God’s grace is most evident.

The Bible is full of stories where grace steps in when everything else seems lost. Look at the story of the nation of Israel. Time and again, the people found themselves in impossible situations, caught between their failures and their desperate need for God. Yet, over and over again, God’s grace saved them. And that same grace is the reason why God sent His Son, Jesus, into this world – to save humanity, to redeem us when we couldn’t save ourselves.

Christmas, the celebration of Jesus’ birth, is a powerful reminder of this grace. God sent His Son not because we deserved it, but because of His endless love and grace. Jesus is the ultimate expression of grace – God reaching down to us in our brokenness, offering us the gift of salvation.

Perhaps, in this season of your life, you are being invited to experience God’s grace like never before.

Maybe you’re facing a challenge or a season of struggle that feels impossible. But take heart. Christmas reminds us that God’s grace is always available, never out of reach, and is more than enough to sustain us, to heal us, and to bring us hope.

Christmas reminds us that God’s grace is always available, never out of reach, and is more than enough to sustain us, to heal us, and to bring us hope.

As you reflect on the grace of God this Christmas, remember that it’s not just a nice word or phrase. It’s the foundation of our faith. It’s the reason for the season. It’s what saves us, time and time again. By God’s grace, we are redeemed, restored, and forever loved.

May this Christmas season be a fresh reminder to you of the overwhelming grace that God offers. May you experience it in a new and deeper way, and may it carry you through every moment of your life.

Reflection: Which moments in your life did you feel like you were at the end of yourself? What’s a personal testimony you’d share about God’s grace in your life?