For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9New International Version (NIV)
His grace is the redeeming, freeing theme of my life. I am
not able on my own. Not able to save myself, not able to sanctify myself, and
not able to be who I need to be for my husband and children. I am completely
and totally reliant on God for everything.
As I am reminded that I need Him for my salvation I am also
reminded I need Him for every aspect of my life. Nothing I do will ever be
enough. There is no perfect mom award that redeems me. There is no incredible
wife award that saves me.
It is simply His grace.
The freedom comes as I fall into this grace and fully
embrace it. It’s not up to me to make everything ok, nor does it fall on my
(often weary) shoulder to make it all work. My job is not to try harder but
instead, surrender to the promise of His saving, sustaining, enabling grace.
I cannot boast in myself. I have nothing to boast of.
But oh! When I am operating in grace I have something worth
boasting in! A God who is strong when I am weak. A God who pours out a lavish
grace that enables me to be the woman, wife, and mother I am unable to be on my
own.
Self-reliant works put me in bondage. They put constant
pressure on me to perform and never fail. However, when I surrender the
self-reliant strive for perfectionism and instead, fall into God’s redeeming, enabling
grace, I find the release from performance.
In grace lies my freedom.
