Sometimes I struggle in life with the futility of being enough.  I want to stop being “ordinary” and do something special with my life. You may know what I mean. I think if I am just a better person, or if I work just a little harder, or if I do just a little more, or if I am just a little smarter–I can be loved more, recognized more, rewarded more, respected more . . . and, you get the picture.  In all honesty, that kind of thinking is futile and leads to discouragement and disappointment.  Because I am searching for significance in the wrong things and the wrong people.

That’s why I love God’s grace. Because no matter what I do, how much I do, and how I do it, it can never be enough to bring me into His presence. I can’t earn my way, I can’t buy my way, and I can’t bargain my way.  All I can do is present myself willing and ready to humbly bow at the throne of God’s grace.

In Christianese (meaning a word frequently spoken in Christian circles), grace generally is defined as the unmerited favor of God.  And it is.  But it is so much more.  It is that intangible thing that gives us hope and a new life. It is something that has been purchased at a great cost for us.  And it is a free gift.  One that is waiting to be accepted and opened. To be loved, appreciated, and used over and over again.

When I rest in God’s grace, I do not need to worry if I am good enough.  I am flawed and imperfect, and covered by the blood of the lamb. I do not use it as an excuse to neglect to strive to do good, but I can remember that my sin  is why Jesus came to earth in the first place.  He’s got it covered.

So the next time you start thinking you can earn your way to God by being more–just stop.  Rely on His grace. He’s got you covered.

Ephesians 2:410 “But God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much ⁵ that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again^[a] when he raised Christ from the dead—only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved— ⁶ and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms—all because of what Christ Jesus did. ⁷ And now God can always point to us as examples of how very, very rich his kindness is, as shown in all he has done for us through Jesus Christ.

⁸ Because of his kindness, you have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of yourselves;^[b] it too is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it. ¹⁰ It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.” – Living Bible version