God’s Grace Isn’t A Reward (It’s A Gift You Already Possess)
We often live with the misconception that God’s grace and salvation must be earned through our efforts and good works. This mindset leaves us constantly trying to prove ourselves worthy, questioning whether we’ve done enough to deserve His favor.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Yet this verse reveals that God’s gift of salvation comes freely through faith—it’s not something we earn, but a treasure we discover has always been available to us.
This principle mirrors experiences in our own lives: we find joy in giving gifts to our friends and family simply because we love them, not because they’ve earned our generosity. Similarly, when we extend undeserved kindness to others, it transforms our relationships in profound ways.
When we embrace the freedom of grace, we release ourselves from the burden of performance-based thinking. This liberation allows us to fully receive God’s generosity, shifting our motivation from striving to earn His approval, to joyfully sharing His goodness with others. As this truth takes root in our hearts, we naturally become a vessel in extending the same grace to those around us.
Salvation is a precious gift from God, received by grace through faith rather than through personal effort or merit. It’s easy to fall into the trap of striving to earn what God freely offers, but true spiritual freedom comes from resting in His character and promises rather than in our own performance. Embracing this gift requires a heart posture of trust; accepting God’s grace fully and allowing it to shape daily life.
As this understanding deepens, it draws a person closer to God and cultivates the ability to extend that same grace to others. Letting go of performance-based thinking brings peace, replacing striving with the assurance of God’s unfailing love. Walking in this abundant grace each day becomes both an act of faith and a reflection of the divine generosity that sustains spiritual growth.
Karin Hadadan is the best-selling author of Beauty in the Stillness, which has been praised for helping readers “unravel the God self that is truly within you,” guiding them to find deeper meaning in life. Here, she reminds us that we don’t need to earn God’s approval, we already have it.
