Sometimes I get frustrated when my children aren’t obedient in a timely manner. I try to teach them to “obey right away,” but I sometimes lack grace and patience when they fail to follow through.

I can’t help but wonder if God sees me the same way. Because I am human in nature, I sometimes fail at obedience. I lack the perfection that Jesus alone possesses. While I sometimes struggle to offer grace, the promise God has made to us never waivers. It isn’t contingent on our behavior, and He doesn’t retract His commitment to love us after we have messed up too many times.

I’m so thankful that God doesn’t put an expiration date on his grace, or a limit on how many times I can be forgiven. He doesn’t give up on His children, but He remains patient in His love for us.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” –Ephesians 1:3-6

Most days, I need to pause. Take a deep breath. I need to reflect and remember the goodness of God. My prayer for this Lenten season is to begin each day by remembering God’s Holy and complete goodness. If we all began our days by meditating on that truth, perhaps we would be more likely to offer grace and patience to the other imperfect humans around us (and then perhaps I could better model it for my children). When we realize that we are undeserving of God’s grace, but yet he calls us chosen to become holy and blameless (Ephesians 1: 4).

• • Do you find it easy to offer grace to others? Is there someone from whom you are withholding grace? If so, pray for that person today, and pray God will soften your heart to be free from contention.
  • Do you find it difficult to offer grace to yourself? If so, spend some time today contemplating on the goodness that is God. Re-read Ephesians 1:3-6, replacing the pronoun “us” with your name. God’s grace truly is enough.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. –Psalm 107:1