She called me broken. She couldn’t do it anymore and wanted to just quit this road called Christianity. It was too hard and she knew she would continue to fail. I listened to her cries. She had disappointed her mom, her boss and now her close friend. She was tired of making excuses and tired of failing. In life she was given too many details to remember and too many decisions to make.

And through all of this, it was God she was blaming – she wanted to let go of Him. Why? Because she knew if she had failed everyone else, in the end it was God who would judge her.

Why, I asked her, are you giving up so soon and turning from God? Jesus, in His great mercy, forgives and forgives and forgives. The Holy Spirit teaches and continues to teach. And God pours out grace and love abundantly. In fact, there will always be enough forgiveness, teaching, grace and love for you in all of your lifetime.

She had begun to look at this Christian life as lived and judged from her works. She had forgotten The Gospel message is one of forgiveness and grace. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. And it is by grace you are 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.

All of a sudden, her heart stirred and her eyes opened. Yes, she realized, I have been looking at my works and not at a forgiving and loving Father.
Today, where are you? Have you forgotten? Life yes, is hard and can be challenging. But take a moment – open your heart and breath in His grace. Let Him hear your heart’s confession and once again sit in His lap and rest.

For my friends, you are loved. You are loved by the One who is love.