Grace: how to receive it and give it to others

Do you ever feel like it’s hard to open up, honestly, to others with how you are really doing? 

Close friends and trusted family members will ask “how are you?” but you shrug it off with “I am good,” or “doing ok, hanging in there!” 

I do this, too. 

There are times when I don’t want to open up or share my heart because of fear of judgment, discouragement holding me back, lack of trusting on my part, or I just don’t want to admit I am not doing well when everyone around me seems to be thriving in life. 

I feel burdened by life’s struggles, or I feel inadequate. 

Do you ever struggle with this? 

It’s in these times that I try to remember that I am not the only one who is weary or sad or having a difficult season. I can reach out and open up my heart to Jesus because I am known by him and he wants to hear my woes. He doesn’t want me to keep it in; he wants me to bring it to his feet, resting in the knowledge and truth that he is a good father who cherishes me. 

This is true for you too.

We can remember on our journey—and in our relationship with Jesus—that we have the gift of grace. 

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) we read: “But he said to me, ‘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.”

Jesus displayed both great weakness and strength while on the cross. He was weak in body, but strong in his demeanor and abilities. 

Jesus understands what it feels like to be weak. We saw the greatness of his power when his body was broken on the cross. He asked for forgiveness for those who were hurting him. He wasn’t angry at what was happening to him but possessed great love and tolerance. 

His heart filled with such a deep devotion for us and his work to save humanity that his outpouring of love was unprecedented.

He was showing grace. Grace towards those who had committed these heinous acts against him. He showed great compassion towards his offenders. 

He boasted not about what he was doing to save mankind but his act demonstrated the power he had from God and the position we too are to take when struggling.

We are to forgive others. To share with others, like Jesus demonstrated when he came before the father in prayer before he obediently went to endure the cross.

We are called not to hold back our feelings to close, safe, trusted friends and family but to instead share openly when we need to.

In sharing, we may feel weak—and our imperfections may show—but Jesus doesn’t want us to pretend to be something or someone we are not.

We are to own our shortcomings and know that we need to depend on Jesus in our troubles in order to get through them. 

Our dependence on him needs to escalate; if we don’t do this, then we don’t allow ourselves to receive his grace. Grace knowing when we mess up he is there, grace knowing in our weakness he is our strength, and grace accepting that we are not perfect but we can go to the one who is.

The more you accept his grace the more you open your heart to depending on God. 

Depend on him and your weakness will be your greatest strength, a deeper intimate relationship with him.  

Go to safe, trusted friends with whom you can share your struggles. Go to a close family member—but first and foremost go to Jesus.

His grace is enough to accept yourself for who you are and allows you to be open and honest with others.

Want to go deeper with Jesus on this topic? 
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