Getting something great that you don’t deserve can be a blessing and a curse. For most of us, we love those types of experiences—the freebie without the work and the blessings without the business. Who wouldn’t love that? For others, however, there is the follow up guilt. That feeling that you owe someone something if they do anything for you. The sense that you aren’t worth whatever it is you’ve been given, whether it’s time, money, gifts, or something else all together. Or perhaps it’s that sense of “obligatory humility”; we are supposed to be humble so we resist anything given to us in hopes that our humility will shine through.
At the end of the day, we often reject what is offered to us by others in light of our feelings of unworthiness, or we take for granted the goodness of others when they extend themselves to us and develop a sense of entitlement. It’s the constant tug of war with ourselves; “I’m not good enough” vs. “I deserve this more than anyone.” We think it’s a game, but in the end, neither side is winning. Grace doesn’t need to play. Grace is serious about giving selflessly and showing up right in the middle of our misery. We don’t deserve it. We want it. We need it. We crave it. Time and again, we resist it. And far too often we forget to share it.
When it comes to life and love, there are many games to be played. The blame game. The climb up the corporate ladder. Love that ends up like duck, duck, goose- just looking for the right place to land. Service that is offered like a leap frog frenzy—always trying to outdo one another. Forgiveness is found as hide and seek—being sought and being denied, hiding in fear. At the end of it all there is still grace. In fact, grace is like the referee for all the games of life. It is the only things that can call the shots and settle the scores in every circumstance. And Grace is a good referee. We’d like to think it has made a few bad calls, but it never does. Grace is sufficient. Grace is perfect. Grace is rooted in God.
If you find yourself playing the tug of war game, wondering if you’re good enough, then rest assured. You are not good enough. Nobody is. But you do not lose, because of God’s grace. Grace makes you a winner every time. If you find yourself struggling with the games you keep playing again, and again, then look for the ref. Look for grace that is your gift from God. Lok for it for yourself. Look for it on behalf of your teammates, whether they be your spouse, shid, church family or coworkers. They are in need of grace. They need to know they can win at this game of life. They need a reminder that when everything ugly in this world is casting judgment, there is grace. Something wonderful that is free for them—even when they don’t deserve it. Get out of the games, and get into grace. It is the only thing that will renew your faith, commitments, vision, and relationships.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” -2 Corinthians 12:9
Grace is sufficient. It’s your only saving… well, grace. J
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