Tag: Doubt

  • Grace Is Free—So Why Do We Struggle to Accept It?

    Some people struggle to believe in grace. Not because they don’t want to, but because they’ve spent their whole lives hearing that they don’t deserve it.

    Maybe you were raised in a home where love was conditional. Maybe church felt more like a courtroom than a refuge. Maybe every time you messed up, someone was quick to remind you just how much you had failed. Over time, you started believing the lie: I have to earn grace. I have to prove I’m worthy of forgiveness.

    Even those raised in the church aren’t immune. The mind resists what the heart knows to be true. You can read about grace, hear sermons on grace, even sing about grace… and still struggle to accept it for yourself.

    But here’s the truth: Grace is free. It always has been.

    Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

    A gift. Not a wage. Not a reward. A gift.

    But the enemy doesn’t want you to believe that. He wants to keep you trapped in shame, in doubt, in fear. That’s why I love Zack Williams’ song Fear Is a Liar. Because fear is a liar. It whispers, You’re not enough. You’ll never change. You don’t deserve forgiveness. But God says, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

    If you’ve been carrying the weight of trying to earn God’s love, it’s time to lay it down. His grace is enough. For you.

    And if you know someone who struggles with this, be patient. Be kind. Sometimes, climbing out of that pit takes time. Sometimes, people need to see grace lived out before they can fully accept it.

    So let’s be a reflection of the grace we’ve received.

    Watch Fear Is a Liar by Zack Williams

  • Between the Altar and the Door

    Ever had a powerful moment with God—one of those times when your heart is stirred, your eyes fill with tears, and you just know something is changing—only to have that feeling disappear before you even leave the building?I was driving home from work today, jamming out to Pandora as usual, when The Altar and the Door by Casting Crowns came on. I’ve heard it countless times, but today, these lyrics hit differently:

    And I cry like so many times before
    But my eyes are dry before I leave the floor
    Oh Lord, I’ll try
    But this time, Jesus, how can I be sure
    I will not lose my follow thru
    Between the altar and the door.

    Ouch. That’s me. Too many times, I’ve stood in church, tears falling, heart open, making commitments to God—only to let distractions, doubts, and daily life steal my follow-through before I even hit the parking lot.

    Jesus spoke about this exact struggle in the Parable of the Sower:

    When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. (Mark 4:15, NKJV)

    It’s not that our intentions at the altar aren’t real. It’s that the enemy knows if he can snatch the seed before it takes root, it won’t grow. And honestly? Sometimes, he doesn’t even have to work that hard. We let our minds wander, our schedules take over, and before we know it, that powerful moment with God feels like a distant memory.

    So how do we keep that fire from fading?

    1. Stay in the Word – Feelings fade, but God’s truth remains. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)
    2. . Pray Constantly – Prayer isn’t just for the altar; it’s for the drive home, the dinner table, the chaos of everyday life. “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
    3. Live It Out – Faith isn’t just an emotion; it’s action. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)
    4. Be Accountable – We were never meant to walk this road alone. “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)

    This time, I don’t want to lose my follow-through. I don’t want to leave my commitment at the altar. I want to carry it with me through the door and into my daily life.

    What about you? What’s one step you can take today to make sure your faith doesn’t fade the moment you walk away?