Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:7 (KJV)

But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. Romans 5:20 (New International Version, NIV)

Are you hard on people? Do you expect them to measure up to some impossible standard? Are you unreasonable? Do you have expectations that cannot be met? Are you never statisfied with other people’s actions? Do you push them beyond what they’re capable of doing? Are you ready to write people off if they mess up one more time? If so, it’s possible that you’re hard on yourself too.

Receive God’s grace for yourself. Give yourself a break. You don’t have to be perfect. Allow God’s ability to go to work for you. That’s grace. When you receive it for yourself, it is easier to give grace to others. Life doesn’t have to be as hard as we make it. There’s a grace available that makes life liveable, doable, and easier. And the grace we give others will allow God to give more grace to us again. When we sow grace, we reap it..

Grace will soften us so we’re not so hard on ourselves or others- or even on God. After all, it is possible for us to be hard on God, not submitting and resisting him so we can have our own way. As we submit to Him, finding His way to be the best, it brings a grace for life. As we give grace to others, letting them be themselves, God does the same for us. It’s wonderful to be part of God’s grace cycle!