There’s an ongoing struggle I have with the Gospel. It’s the part where Jesus does everything.

When I accepted Jesus as my Savior as a young child, it seemed easy. But as I grew, both chronologically and spiritually, I became aware of all the commands of Scripture. I began to feel an immense pressure to measure up. To make Jesus pleased with me. I didn’t understand His love is not based on my performance.

My parents and my teachers meant well. But instead of raising an obedient little grace girl, they raised an anxious ball of nerves that believed Jesus was mad at her all the time for being less than perfect.

To this day, I struggle with living in grace and giving grace. I continually remind myself Jesus’ love for me hasn’t changed from day one. He loves me today just the same as He will love the future me in Heaven. What a great relief this knowledge is to “Type A” me!

The basis of grace

Thankfully, God prods me occasionally to help me stay on my grace-girl path. This week’s nudge came from one of my favorite books of Scripture.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
– Ephesians 2:4-10

It makes sense that I cannot earn my salvation. There could never be an act of kindness or a series of good works to equate to the holy Son of God coming to earth for the express purpose of enduring torture and dying to pay the price for my sin. I can never earn or repay that gift.

But things get sticky when I get real about my life. I want to serve God well, lead people to Jesus, and use my talents to bless His daughters. I find myself fretting if I’m enough. How can I do more? Be more?

We are God’s Workmanship

This passage blows all those questions away with a kiss. God made us alive in Christ. God is creating us into everything He desires for us to be. We are HIS workmanship. The only part we play is showing up. The timing and process are on Him.

This means I can let go of the pressure of trying to accomplish 1,001 things in 24 hours. There’s no need to compare myself to others who are seeing success faster than I am. I can release worry and rest peacefully at night. I can be flexible when circumstances change. If we fight Him in this, we interrupt His craft, causing pain to ourselves in the process.

We can create, but we’re not the Creator

God has hardwired us in His image. In part, this means we enjoy creating. We desire to mold our lives into perfect resumes, beautiful children, lovely homes, and a respectable retirement account. There’s nothing wrong with any of this, unless we hold so tightly to our designs the Creator cannot change them without breaking them. In keeping our lives protected with tightened fist, we make ourselves as God. We commit idolatry.

So make your plans and set your goals. Work hard, for God is pleased with our diligence. But keep an open hand. Seek God’s face in setting new directions for your journey. Look to Him for guidance each step of the way. In doing so we keep ourselves under His protection as He molds us into who He has designed us to be.

Are you raising your children to think Jesus is upset with them all the time? Do you think so about yourself? Continue the conversation in the comments below.