You cannot give yourself grace...
Friend, you cannot “give yourself some grace.”
I’m sorry. I know people have good intension when they say it. Truly. But I don’t want to have good intensions. I want to speak truth.
So, I’ve been praying. Searching the Word. And, you can’t give it to yourself. Not real grace.
Grace, when spoken by the One who created it, is often coupled with mercy. The two go hand in hand. Grace is receiving favor you DON'T deserve. Mercy is not receiving consequences you DO deserve. A beautiful pairing, each focusing on a different aspect of what is often the same issue.
And every time scripture uses the word grace, it is always someone showing it to someone else. Always. Most often, God. God showing grace on undeserving sinners by making a way for us to be forgiven of our sins. Showering His grace on a broken world through rain and sunshine and stars and deep breaths of summer night air. No one else can bestow undeserved favor like Him. It is astounding and layered and complex.
But in those moments, when that cliché phrase is offered, what then? What do we do when we’re failing, when we’re overwhelmed, when we need something because life is hard and we’re fighting not to drown in our own shortcomings? If we don’t show ourselves grace, then what?
Well, if we look into scripture, we see many cautions against… pride.
My friend, perhaps what you need is to be humble. To admit you cannot do it all, to see how weak and flawed you are. To admit it’s your pride that’s driving you, whispering you can do more, deserve more, handle more, be more. In that moment when you fail, when you break, when it all crumbles around you, let go.
Do you realize how much freedom is found in admitting you are not enough? How much relief there is in that truth?
And God is there, willing to give you HIS grace, REAL grace. If only you ask.
I shouldn’t attempt to give myself grace. Instead, I should admit my pride and humble myself. Then turn to the One who is the maker of real, rich, delightful grace.
**This is your friendly PSA to set aside your “good intentions” and define things the way God defines them. See them the way He sees them. Speak truths, not just what sounds nice.
tiny devotional about grace by Sarah Jake
