Many of us have been thoroughly trained in the mindset that tells us that any degree of success we experience is entirely up to us. The world subscribes to the “God helps those who help themselves” mentality. This is nowhere to be found in the Bible. God wants us to succeed, and He wants to be the one to make that possible.

We open ourselves up to all kinds of stress when we try to make our own way through life, independent of God. We can never know for sure where we’re headed or what will happen in the future. We need God to guide us, and we must depend on Him. Life is like a vapor that can appear for a while, and then vanish away.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, who takes great delight in every detail of our lives when we trust Him to lead us. Even when we devise our own way in our hearts, God directs our steps—if we’re wise enough to let Him do so. We gain that wisdom, and find the rest and peace of mind that God wants for us, by relying on His grace.

The Gospel of Grace is rooted in the finished works of Jesus, who made available to us everything we’ll ever need. We don’t have to toil endlessly; it’s already there. In the Old Testament, God promised the people He would give them good things they didn’t work for; that’s exactly what happened. This promise still holds true for us when we rest in what He did.

Grace and peace both come from God, who created us to operate out of rest, not stress or worry. All the blessings we enjoy are because of His unmerited favor toward us, not from our own striving. When we rest, we see God’s best.

Prayer:

God, there are plenty of things in life we can’t foresee. Thankfully, we don’t have to depend on ourselves to navigate. Your will is for us to succeed on every level; we will when we rest in Your favor toward us. We’re grateful. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

• James 4:14
• Psalm 37:23
• Proverbs 16:9
• Deuteronomy 6:10-12
• Joshua 24:13
• Galatians 1:3