This might not describe everyone, but I share it because I’ve seen it so often… and I’ve lived it myself.
And today, I simply want to encourage you to lift your eyes.
In conversations…
in meetings…
in social media posts and heavy-hearted prayers…
I sense the weight many of you are carrying:
The striving.
The self-examination.
The quiet wondering:
“Did I do enough this week?”
“Did I pray long enough?”
“Did I fail too many times?”
…And all the questions that follow.
When the answer feels like “not enough,”
the guilt creeps in….
and you vow to try harder next week.
But friend, may I gently ask…
Did God call us to live this way?
This constant striving?
This pressure to measure up?
This endless inner checklist?
That’s not freedom.
That’s not the gospel.
The GOOD news is:
It was never about what you can or can’t do for God.
It’s about what Jesus has already done for you.
THAT should be our focus!
“It is finished.” – John 19:30
“By grace you have been saved through faith… not by works.” – Ephesians 2:8–9
When our focus is on what we’ve done or haven’t done,
we lose sight of what He’s done.
When we try to earn His love,
we’re actually missing the very point of grace.
But when we begin to truly grasp the grace of God….
when we understand who He is… His kindness
His sufficiency
His unchanging love…
When we trust that His compassion isn’t based on our performance,
but on His heart—
We stop striving and start resting.
We stop performing and start praising.
Our hearts begin to whisper: “Thank You, Jesus, for walking with me.”
“Thank You for loving me at my weakest.”
“Thank You for finishing the work I never could.”
And from that place of gratitude, ACTION flows….
Not from pressure, but from joy.
Not to earn His favor, but because you already have it.
That’s freedom. No more measuring.
No more shame.
Just walking with Him, step by step.
Resting in His presence,
Trusting His grace,
Living from love.
I share this not as one who has it all figured out,
but as someone who’s learning to live from grace too.
Let’s walk this journey together.
With love,
Your sister in Christ,
Jordan (Arbogust) Rudolph
September 2, 2025
PS. I always welcome your thoughts and reflections