The Best News

You’ve done the work, yet you still feel unseen

Have you ever poured your heart into something, given behind-the-scenes, spoken up with an idea…and then watched someone else take the praise? Really frustrating, right? You served, you cared, you created…and yet the recognition went elsewhere. And if that feels unfair here on earth, how much more when we think about our relationship with God?

Because the truth is this: On a foundational level, we wouldn’t even be here without our Creator and Sustainer. We wouldn’t exist without the universe and body in which we live, a universe and body we did not make ourselves. We wouldn’t breathe without the oxygen in our lungs. We wouldn’t think, see, hear, or speak without the minds, eyes, ears, and mouths He’s given us.

And yet…when it comes to salvation, so many of us act as though we earned it. We try to get God’s approval, we try to do enough good, we hope we’ll deserve it. But the apostle Paul, writing from a Roman prison, said it clearly:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” — Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT

So this blog post will help you understand that best news, anchor yourself in it, and live it out in everyday life. I’ll share a story, ask some questions, and even include a quick quiz to help you engage. And yes, I have been on both sides of this: trying to take credit for what God did, and then learning to let Him get the glory.

Subheading: The problem – We take credit when we shouldn’t

We often do great work. We volunteer. We encourage. We build. We sacrifice. And yet quietly, or not-so-quietly, we may think: “This is my doing. I made this happen.” Instead of saying, “God did this through me,” we say, “I did this.”

When we behave this way, we steal credit from God. We act as though we are the savior, the fix-it person, the solution. But if we buy into that mindset, we miss the foundational truth: we were not capable of saving ourselves. We are not the source of our being or our breath.

When Paul wrote Ephesians 2:8-9, he reminded the believers that anything saving happened was by God’s grace, through faith, not by our works.

So here’s the problem in simple terms:

• We try to earn our way into God’s favor.

• We view salvation as something we achieved.

• We forget that it’s a gift.

• We miss the freedom that comes when we stop striving and start receiving.

The good news – It’s all gift, not earning

Now for the best news: You don’t have to earn it. You don’t have to prove yourself. Because your salvation is a gift from God. Because you were made by Him. Because He chose to reveal Himself to you, love you, and invite you into His story.

Paul writes: “you have been saved by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” That means that when you believe, you are receiving the gift, not buying it.

For example: Imagine you were drowning, and someone reached down and pulled you out. You didn’t swim yourself to shore. Someone rescued you. You owe your life to the rescuer. Likewise, we were spiritually lost. We couldn’t save ourselves. God came and rescued us. That’s why Paul says we can’t boast. Because we didn’t do the rescue. He did.

A personal story (yours might be similar)

When I first became a Christian I tried so hard. I thought if I did enough Bible reading, served enough people, said the right words, then God would love me more, bless me more. I was exhausted. I was anxious. Because I felt I was under pressure.

Then one Sunday I heard a sermon on Ephesians 2:8-9. The pastor explained that I am saved by grace through faith, not by works. I nearly cried. Because I realized: I didn’t have to keep proving myself. I simply had to believe. I simply had to receive.

Suddenly, I felt freedom. Freedom from performance. Freedom from the endless “What have I done today?” accountability to earn God’s favor. Instead, I started living out of the love and acceptance I had already received. I served not to earn the gift, but because the gift had already been given.

If you have ever felt tired of trying, worn out by striving, this story is for you. Maybe today you can let go of “earning” and begin “receiving.”

How to live this truth daily

1. Remember the source. Each morning remind yourself: “God made me. God sustains me. God saved me.” He initiated it.

2. Receive, don’t earn. Rather than asking, “What must I do to deserve this?” ask, “How can I live in thankfulness for what He has done?”

3. Serve from freedom. When you serve others, do it because you are loved and free, not because you are trying to earn more love.

4. Combat comparison and boasting. Paul said the gift is so that no one can boast. If someone else gets credit, or you don’t, you’re still loved.

5. Share the best news. You’ve received a gift. Invite someone else to receive it too. Use your story to point to Him, not to yourself.

Quiz – How do you view your salvation?

Choose the answer that resonates most.
1. When I think about being saved, I mostly feel…
a) I must keep proving I’m worthy.
b) I feel grateful and accepted.
c) I’m unsure what exactly I believe.

2. When you serve or volunteer, you do it because…
a) It will make God love me more.
b) I already know God loves me, so I serve.
c) I serve because it seems right or expected.

3. When someone else takes praise for something you did, you…
a) Feel lost and unappreciated.
b) Remember the gift still came from God.
c) Wonder if I matter at all.

Interpretation:
Mostly a’s: You may still be operating in try-hard mode. Let yourself breathe in the gift.
Mostly b’s: You’re living from the truth of grace. Keep walking in it.
Mostly c’s: You may be somewhere between striving and resting. Ask God to show you what it means to receive.

Poll – What’s your biggest takeaway?

Select one:

• I need the reminder that salvation is a gift.

• I need to stop trying to earn God’s approval.

• I want to serve out of freedom, not obligation.

• I’m unsure, and I need to ask God to show me more.

(Feel free to share your answer in the comments or with a friend!)

Why this truth matters for your identity

When you understand that your salvation is not based on your works, you begin to shift:

• From performance-based identity (“I must earn God’s love”)

• To gift-based identity (“I am loved and saved through Christ”)

This shift changes your posture in life. It changes your view of God, from judge or scorekeeper to loving Father. It changes your view of others, you don’t have to compare, you don’t have to compete, you simply share. And it changes your actions, you serve not to prove yourself, but because you are grateful.

Final word: Will you accept and share the greatest gift?

The story of God and the story of us is this: He pursued us when we didn’t deserve it. He saved us when we were lost and hopeless. We are not capable of saving ourselves. We are not capable of being the solution. We are not capable of being our own saviors…

…And that’s good news! The best news, actually.

Because God saved us by His grace, and that’s a gift. Salvation isn’t something we earned, but mercy we received. We don’t get to decide who’s more deserving, because none of us are. Yet, in His great mercy, God has chosen to reveal Himself to us at this particular time in history, because He loves us. He initiated our salvation when we couldn’t save ourselves. And He has invited us to join Him in the greatest story on earth.

So…are you in? Will you accept the gift? And once you’ve accepted it, will you share it, not for your glory, but for His?

If your answer is “Yes,” then walk confidently. You are beloved. You are free. You are saved, not by what you did, but by what He has done.

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