8 Beautiful Passages to Read When You Struggle to Accept God’s Free Gift of Grace
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Amazing grace. If you grew up in any type of faith culture, you probably heard this song at church. Perhaps you heard it at a funeral, or maybe your grandmother sang it to you or it played a recorded version on her radio.
It is a favorite in our Christian circles because of the deep message behind it. God’s grace isn’t something small or insignificant. It is truly amazing. Sometimes it can feel so big and out of reach that we can convince ourselves it is not for us. Sin, shame, poor choices, and life that feels too messed up can give us feelings and thoughts that make it difficult to understand the true gift of God’s grace. How could this free gift be available to sinful people?
The Bible is clear that God’s grace is for all mankind. It is a free gift and while yes, we are undeserving, that is the beauty in the gift. Even though we don’t deserve God’s free gift of grace, He still gave it. His one and only Son took your place and my place on the cross and paid for our sins.
If you are struggling to understand how this grace is truly free for you today, then let’s unpack a few verses to help us take a step toward understanding why we can fully accept and rest in God’s free gift of grace.
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1. Grace Breaks the Power of Sin
“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
No matter what you have done or what has been done to you, sin does not get the final word. If your story is one of coming to Christ and choosing Jesus as your Savior, grace covers sin from every side. You do not have to live trapped under the weight of mistakes or a messed-up life. Grace is the cycle-breaker of sin. It steps in and no longer allows sin to have the final say. You are more than what you have done or what has happened in your life.
2. Grace Meets Us in Our Weakness
“But he said to me, a ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Sometimes we think of weakness as a sign that God’s blessing is not upon us. The truth of Scripture gives us a different narrative. While weakness is sure to hit each of us in a unique way, grace was created for the weak. If we never had a need for God, we would never understand the weight of the free gift of grace. In this verse from Paul, we find him boasting and being glad in his weakness because he knew weakness was the path for grace. The things and places in your life that make you feel the weakest are the places God wants to shine His grace the brightest.
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3. Grace Defines Our Identity, Not Our Past
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).
The beauty we find in this verse is that God’s grace is for you and me today. It is a real time gift that we can receive no matter what has happened before. If we can truly find our identity in Jesus Christ, we can receive the free gift of grace given to us through Jesus. This helps us take off the weight of guilt, shame, and past mistakes. It is only by God’s grace we are who we are today.
4. Grace Is for Everyone - No Exceptions
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people” (Titus 2:11).
There is a cultural idea that people who grew up on a church pew just have God’s grace a little easier. And then there is another cultural perspective that those who had it rough as a child need a lot more grace to overcome what they’ve been through. The truth is grace does not discriminate; it is equally needed and available to all people. No matter your background, religion, history, race, political stance, or beliefs, grace is available to you. It is freely offered to all and is the only way to Jesus. When we begin to see how grace is truly for all people, it really does become amazing.
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5. Grace Invites Us to Come Boldly
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
No matter what you are going through or have been through, grace is freely available. It opens the door wide and extends an invitation to you to come with boldness before a mighty God. It’s not something that leaves us wondering if we’re welcome. Grace gives us the ability to proceed boldly to the throne and find help when we need it most. If you are in a place in your life when you are desperate for some help and relief, take your burden and problem with boldness before God. Grace will meet you there. It lifts the burden and offers freedom from the heaviest of chains.
6. Grace Grows in Humble Hearts
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” (James 4:6).
Grace reminds us we cannot do life on our own. Pride can often get in the way and cause us to push grace aside. In James we learn that humble hearts receive more grace. It is not that the humble hearts committed less sin or had less life trauma, or that the humble hearts didn’t have a specific upbringing or path of life. The humble simply realized their great need for grace and surrendered their hearts to God.
If pride is keeping you from admitting you need God, let go and release control of the situation. God pours out more grace on the humble because they know how to admit they need Him. You do not need to continue trying to earn God’s grace, but rather just bow before Him and receive it.
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7. Grace Cost Jesus Everything
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
While grace is a free gift, it was not a cheap gift. It was only by the blood of Jesus on the cross that grace could be fully given to cover the sins of the world. Jesus left His home in heaven and literally gave His life for you and me. This is grace. He chose to become poor in spirit and poor in suffering so we could obtain the richness of His grace. Sometimes we can doubt if we are really worth it, but He would not have died for you and me if we weren’t. Your life is a valuable gift purchased by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
8. Grace Is Not Just a One-Time Gift - It’s Ongoing
“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:16).
God’s grace does not run out. It keeps on giving day by day and moment by moment. When you fall or slip up, there is grace. When you choose wrongly or rebel, there is grace. When life feels empty and worthless, there is grace. When hard times hit again, there is grace.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, sounds a lot sweeter once you have actually experienced it. And that amazing grace never runs short, late, or out. It is more than a song we sing. It is our living hope. Never limited. Always on time. Forever enough. Grace upon grace for you and for me.
So receive it today. Even if you feel distant from God, His grace is fresh and real for you right now. Today, let’s lay down our striving and receive the amazing, endless grace of God. It’s not too late! Grace is waiting for you and for me.
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