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God’s Stabilizing Grace

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A Love That Holds Us on Our Worst Days

“Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.”
— Jerry Bridges

These words from Jerry Bridges have resonated with me for years. They speak to the essence of what it means to live under the transforming power of God’s grace. When I first encountered this truth, it was like a lifeline cutting through the fog of performance-based Christianity—a Christianity that left me exhausted and burdened, swinging between pride on my “good days” and despair on my “bad days.”

Breaking Free from the “Good Day, Bad Day” Cycle

For years, I measured God’s love for me based on my performance. If I had my devotions, avoided sin, and made “godly” decisions, I assumed God’s favor was mine to enjoy. But on the days when I failed—whether through a sharp word, a missed prayer time, or a selfish attitude—I felt as though I had forfeited His love.

This toxic mindset kept me in a cycle of striving and shame, attempting to earn what God had freely given in Christ. Have you ever found yourself living this way—measuring God’s acceptance of you by the scales of your own performance? It’s an unbearable weight, but thankfully, it’s a burden we were never meant to carry.

Grace That Meets Us Where We Are

Jerry Bridges’s book The Discipline of Grace helped dismantle my flawed thinking. His powerful reminder that even my best efforts fall short of God’s perfect standard was both humbling and freeing. The truth is, no amount of personal discipline or spiritual success can earn God’s love, because His love is rooted in Christ’s finished work, not our own.

On our worst days, we are not banished to the doghouse of God’s disappointment. Instead, we are invited to the Father’s house of grace, where redemption and restoration await. Even when God disciplines us, it is always in love, designed to transform us rather than condemn us (Hebrews 12:10–11).

Jesus: More Than a Model, Our Substitute

Understanding grace starts with understanding our need. God’s law demands perfect righteousness, a standard we could never meet. That’s why Jesus didn’t come to merely give us another chance—He came to fulfill the law on our behalf.

Jesus lived the life we could not live and died the death we deserved. His obedience becomes our righteousness (Romans 8:3–4), and His sacrifice fully satisfies God’s justice. Grace, therefore, is not a second chance—it is the ultimate exchange: our sin for His perfection, our failure for His victory.

Four Life-Changing Realities of God’s Grace

As I reflect on Jerry Bridges’s quote, these are four truths about grace that have profoundly shaped my walk with Christ:

  1. God’s love for us is rooted in Christ, not our performance.
    God doesn’t love us because we act like Christ; He loves us because we are in Christ (Romans 8:1). His love is unchanging, unwavering, and complete.
  2. Grace is not a concept; it’s a person.
    Grace has a name—Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 8:9). To be in need of grace is to be held in the unbreakable grip of His love (John 10:28). Our faith is not about what we do for God but about being amazed by what He has done for us (1 Corinthians 1:30).
  3. Grace frees us from earning but empowers our effort.
    While grace ends the exhausting pursuit of earning God’s favor (Ephesians 2:8), it also fuels a new pursuit: living in the freedom of obedience motivated by love, not guilt (Philippians 2:12–13).
  4. Grace transforms, not excuses.
    True grace doesn’t lead to laziness or license. It compels us to pursue holiness, not to earn God’s love, but because we have been so loved (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Pursuing Holiness in the Grip of Grace

God’s grace doesn’t leave us in our sin—it changes us from the inside out. It gives us both the desire and the power to live for His glory. We hate the sin that sent Jesus to the cross and long to see His beauty reflected in our lives.

On our worst days, grace reminds us that we are secure in Christ. On our best days, grace humbles us, showing us that even our best is a gift from God. This kind of love doesn’t just sustain us—it transforms us.

So, let’s reject the “good day, bad day” mentality and rest in the truth of the gospel: God’s love is stronger than our worst days and deeper than our darkest failures.

Reflection and Application Questions

  1. Grace in Your Life: How does the truth that God’s love for you is rooted in Christ, not your performance, challenge or encourage you?
  2. Good Day, Bad Day Mentality: In what ways have you fallen into the “good day, bad day” mentality? How can understanding God’s grace help you break free from this mindset?
  3. Jesus as Your Substitute: Reflect on how Jesus’s obedience and sacrifice have changed your relationship with God. How does this truth impact the way you approach your worst days?
  4. Empowered by Grace: Grace frees us from earning but empowers effort. What is one area of your life where you need to shift from striving to resting in God’s grace while still pursuing holiness?
  5. Transforming Grace: How does the transforming power of grace motivate you to pursue holiness, not out of guilt, but out of gratitude and love?
  6. Sharing Grace: Who in your life needs to hear the message of God’s grace? How can you share this hope with them this week?

Take the Next Step on Your Journey

Thank you for joining me today. If you found this lesson helpful, I encourage you to explore more resources and support on my website, https://jameslongjr.org/.

Finally, would you consider joining our Lessons for Life monthly membership or our online group coaching, where you’ll find powerful coaching videos, a supportive community, and step-by-step guidance for lasting transformation?

Remember, true change is possible when you walk in God’s grace and for His glory. Until next time, may you find peace, hope, and joy in Christ alone. Blessings!

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