Embracing Your True Self: Living in Your Christ-Centered Identity With Jennifer SlatterySample

You are covered in grace.

I tend to ruminate on my mistakes, real or perceived. I suspect this stems from feeling like the “problem child” in my family of origin. Plus, as kids often do, I usually felt to blame for the negative moods and behaviors of the adult in my world, even when their actions and attitudes had little to do with me. This left me feeling like I constantly needed to make up for whatever unknown rule I broke. The punishment isn’t what most bothered me. What hurt the most was the withdrawal of relationship that occurred when given the “silent treatment” for hours, days or even weeks.

Decades later when I became an adult, I subconsciously expected God to act the same. This led me to over confess, particularly when I felt anxious, didn’t sense Christ’s presence or answers to my prayers. But God doesn’t behave like the flawed humans I encountered as a child. His grace exceeds my most grievous sins.

This holds true for all God’s children. Our Father isn’t punitive, nor does He hold grudges. He’s merciful, compassionate, lavishes us with more grace than we could need or exhaust, and longs to teach us to live in this reality.

Journal prompts:

When you sin or behave in ways you wish you hadn’t, what does your brain tend to emphasize most: your regrets or God’s grace? When do you find it most challenging to accept God’s grace? How does it feel to read that you have received grace upon grace, meaning more than you could ever need or exhaust?