You don’t have to look far to see how life has a way of nudging us into overdrive—especially in a season where the kids are grown, the house is quieter, and suddenly you’re staring down questions that seem bigger than before. The world shouts, “Prove yourself! Stay relevant! Try harder!” Yet, buried under the pressure to perform, grace quietly whispers something altogether different: “Trust.”
Now, trusting doesn’t come naturally to us, does it? We’d much rather keep our hands busy, taking comfort in the illusion that more effort equals more worth. But the gospel calls us to a different rhythm—one where grace pulls us out of the rat race and into a new life already given to us through Jesus.
Let’s unpack what this grace really means and how it can transform the way we approach life’s uncertainties, our marriages, and the ever-changing relationship with our grown kids. As we discover the gift of grace, we’ll find the freedom to trust over trying.
Grace Redefines Our Worth
We’ve all heard the phrase “nothing worth having comes easy.” That might work for climbing the career ladder, but grace doesn’t play by those rules. In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul puts it plainly: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” It’s a reminder that God’s love doesn’t need to be earned—it’s already been handed to us, unwrapped and unconditional.
When we truly embrace this, it frees us from measuring our worth by what we do or how well we perform. It takes the pressure off and lets us approach each day as a gift rather than a series of tests. Think about it: instead of trying to be “good enough,” we get to live out of an abundance of grace already given. The good things we do then flow naturally, like a tree bearing fruit—without all the striving.
Trusting Grace in Marriage
With the kids grown and out of the house, marriage can sometimes feel like it’s in uncharted waters. It’s easy to fall into old patterns of “trying” to fix things, make changes, or figure out the “right” way to relate. But what if we allowed grace to reshape our approach?
1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that love “keeps no record of wrongs.” Grace does the same. It offers the courage to let go of the scorecards we’ve been holding onto, trusting that God’s love can fill the gaps. This doesn’t mean we ignore the struggles, but we stop making our spouse a project to be fixed and instead see them as a fellow traveler—both of us in need of the same grace.
The next time you’re tempted to “try harder” to make the relationship better, pause and ask yourself: “Am I trusting grace in this moment?” Let grace be the foundation from which you build, not just a backup plan when everything else has failed.
Call to Action #1: Set aside time to pray together each week, asking God to help you see each other through the lens of grace. Let this time be about listening rather than solving.
Grace and Adult Children: Trusting the Process
If there’s one thing life teaches us, it’s that control is overrated—especially when it comes to parenting adult children. As they find their own way, the temptation to “try” and steer them in the right direction can be strong. Grace invites us to release that grip and trust God with their journey.
Proverbs 22:6 tells us to “train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Notice it doesn’t say “hover over the child” or “fix the child.” There’s a letting go involved—a trust that God is working in their lives, even if we can’t always see it. Grace teaches us to be available rather than overbearing, to support without suffocating.
When we give grace to our adult children, we show them that mistakes aren’t the end of the world. We model what it means to rest in God’s love rather than frantically trying to earn it. And trust me, they’ll notice the difference when our advice is wrapped in grace instead of tied to conditions.
Call to Action #2: Write a letter to your adult child, expressing how you see God at work in their life and affirming them for who they are, not just what they do. Let this be a grace-filled encouragement, without an agenda.
Trust That Grace is Enough
The world tells us that we should always be “doing more,” but Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Notice He doesn’t add a list of tasks for us to complete first. He just says, “Come.”
Grace isn’t a life hack to get better results—it’s a gift that transforms who we are from the inside out. It’s in trusting that Jesus has already accomplished what matters most that we find true rest. In fact, resting in grace is a powerful act of faith because it acknowledges that God’s work is sufficient. It declares, “I am enough, not because of what I’ve done, but because of what Jesus has done for me.”
Living Out the Gift of Grace
It’s easy to think of grace as a one-time event, but it’s so much more. It’s the daily choice to trust rather than try. It’s the decision to let go of our need for control and let God’s love guide us. As we do this, we’ll find that grace not only shapes our relationship with God but overflows into our marriage, our parenting, and our friendships.
Don’t let grace remain a good idea you nod at on Sundays—take hold of it and let it reshape your every day.
Call to Action #3: Begin each morning by reflecting on one area of your life where you’ve been striving. Ask God to help you trust in His grace instead, and commit to practicing this shift throughout the day.
Grace doesn’t give us an easier life; it gives us a better life. A life not defined by what we achieve, but by what’s already been given—a life free from the exhausting cycle of proving ourselves. So, take the gift. Stop trying so hard. Trust in the One who’s already done the heavy lifting.
After all, He’s not asking you to be perfect; He’s inviting you to be His.
0 Comments