Ever feel like God’s love is something you have to earn? Like you’re constantly reapplying for approval by performing just right—checking off quiet time, saying the right things, doing the churchy stuff, and hoping God notices? If so, you’re not alone. So many of us have been shaped by a culture that ties love to usefulness, worth to output, and identity to achievement. But that’s not how God works. His love isn’t a paycheck. It’s not a reward for good behavior or a pat on the back for spiritual effort. It’s a gift. Period.

The truth is, we’ve confused grace with performance. Like the younger son in the Prodigal Son story, we prepare rehearsed speeches, hoping to win our way back into God’s favor. Or like the older brother, we work hard to stay faithful—but secretly think we deserve more because of our obedience. In both cases, we’ve missed the heart of the Father: a God who runs toward us while we’re still far off, not because we’re impressive, but because we’re His.

So why is resting in that love so hard? Fear, shame, and pride all get in the way. We’re afraid that if we stop striving, we’ll stop mattering. Shame tells us we’re too messy to be loved as we are. And pride whispers that we need to contribute something—anything—to feel worthy. But grace doesn’t play by those rules. It wrecks the scoreboard. It levels the field. It says, “You’re loved already. You’re welcome already. You belong already.”

Receiving that kind of love is more than an idea—it’s a practice. It looks like five minutes of silence instead of striving. Speaking truth over yourself instead of letting shame fill the silence. Surrounding yourself with people who remind you who you are when you forget. It’s learning to live from love, not for it. Because the gospel doesn’t begin with your effort. It begins with God’s embrace.

So if you’re tired from trying to earn what’s already yours, take a breath. You don’t need to prove anything. Not to God. Not today. His love is the starting line—not the trophy at the end. You’re not an employee. You’re not on probation. You’re not competing for approval. You’re home. You’re His. And that’s more than enough.