Grace vs Grit

I have been deeply reflecting on Titus 2:12 which tells us that yes grace saves but it also "teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives.

Did I know that before?   Did I realize that grace was a teacher?  Did the magnitude of God's grace really filter into my consciousness as more than His reaction to my sin and insufficiency?  Somehow, I don't think so.   I thought of grace as I had been taught about grace....

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me....

Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that will pardon and cleans within...

I know the words to these and so many other anthems of the faith.  They affirm, we are saved by grace. Those who are followers of Jesus are taught pretty early in their journey that Grace in this context is the unmerited favour of God.   These truths are sure, affirmed in scripture and an absolute part of the groundwork of our faith.  I know that God's favor is like the Queen's favour (or I suppose now it is the King's favour) - when favoured by the King you are granted a boon, a mark of that favour - knighthood, lordship, a dukedom or some other such thing.  To have favour means to gain a mark of that favour.   In Christian thinking that mark is salvation.  But Titus 2:12 tells me the mark, the boon, is far more than salvation.  

Favour or grace teaches me to say no.

Hebrews 13:9 tells us "grace strengthens us".

Acts 4:33 when speaking of the Apostles' miracles says that "God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all". (Grace works miracles)

Grace then is not just the means by which we are saved. It is the source of our learning, living and prevailing in Godliness in the age in which we live. This truth inspires me. It moves me beyond the pressing forward, striving and grasping that sometimes accompanies my faith walk. It pushes me to consider that although grit is certainly required to prevail in my Christian walk, that leaning on Jesus' grace should be my source and being (Acts 17:28). There is a very real difference between grasping with grit and leaning on grace. One takes effort, the other requires reliance and certain levels of rest and trust.

But, you say, the scripture does tell us to have grit, and to prevail:

Hebrews 10:23 let us hold tightly to the hope we affirm;

Hebrews 12:1 to run with perseverance the race marked out for us

James 1:12 certainly indicates that grit has a significant part in the life of the Christian: "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him".   

Yes, absolutely, you are right.  There is a place for grit, but what is the source of the power of that grit?   Is it self-determination or grace?   Is it self-will or rest and reliance?  Maybe, it is a bit of both self-will and faith.  I suppose that is ok at times. The challenge that I have been faced with is: in my absolute trust that God is good, that He prevails, that He has good plans for me, is there still a measure of "I will hang on to Him", I will "turn my eyes upon Jesus", I  will know that "all the way my savior leads me"?   There is an awful lot of "I" in those proclamations.   This has led me to a place of deep contemplation on past actions of faith.  Did I grasp more than lean?   Should I have truly rested in Him instead of relying on grit and determination?   The answer is I don't know, both have gotten me through a lot of stuff.   I do know though, that in grace, and in rest I have peace.  That peace is beyond comprehension (Phil 4:7).  I would rather have that peace accompany my faith walk than the striving and prevailing that sometimes takes over.   Let me share a story that may highlight the difference. 

At the Celebrate Recovery Summit in 2018 or 2019, there was a presentation by Hosannah who was talking about us having a new name.   She asked us to stand at the new name (from scripture) that we owned or wanted to own.   All I wanted to hear was sufficient. I wanted to know that I was good enough, that somehow I met the mark.   In that moment I didn't realize that this was a sign of my grasping to be good enough, it is a sign of co-dependency saying I am enough, I can fix this, I can heal this....all of these thoughts are thoughts of a person using grit to follow Jesus.    When Hosannah did not say sufficient, I was initially let down, on the verge of being crushed, despondent, and quite isolated, then the light went on and grace taught me - Christ is the sufficient one, Grace is our sufficiency, God's grace is enough for me.   I don't have to be good enough, I just need to love Jesus with everything I have and am and lean on Him, rest in Him, and be still in Him. When I do that, peace comes, the overwhelming, all-encompassing peace of God which surpasses understanding.   God's peace and grace do not fit in a box, they flood and overwhelm.  As someone shared some time ago grace is voluminous, overwhelming, and all-encompassing like Niagara Falls' 687,000 gallons of water flowing over the horseshoe falls every second.  That is what God's grace is like, abundant beyond comprehension, overwhelming, flooding us with all the love, peace, and truth that comes with His grace and with His favor.  I can trust that level of investment in me.   I can lean on that and know security. I can look to grace to teach me. I can rely on God's grace to perform miracles for and in me.   I can find quietness and confidence in grace (Isaiah 30:15). 

I would far rather have the peace of leaning than the expense of power required with grit. Thank you for helping me get that off my chest.  Still processing and leaning more than grasping these days and I am finding huge levels of peace in it.