Great. When you hear this word, what comes to mind? Perhaps something large in size or stature or amount. It can be used to describe force or intensity (positively or negatively).

I’m thinking of the positive today: Because if we add it as an adjective to anything, it describes something as truly significant and genuinely important. Noteworthy.

Now consider this verse: “With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them” (Acts 4:33). I’ve shared this before. It often comes up in my spirit when I pray. It’s a reminder to me that we have help. Just like the apostles.

They weren’t testifying or operating in their own strength. They had some assistance. And it wasn’t small or insignificant. It was great–

Thank you Lord for great grace.

Effortless.

If you look up the Webster’s definition of grace, words like effortless, poise, charm, favor, approval, and goodwill appear, each with different applications. But the grace you and I are seeking (and needing) is the “absolutely free expression of the lovingkindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited.”

This kind of grace is received by faith. And it is the complete opposite of works (toil, labor, or drudgery). Grace is what causes us to love and seek after God’s righteousness. It produces peace in individuals who value it. The Greek Study Bible says, “Grace remains constant in, and basic to, a believer’s fight without against the devil and his struggle within against sin.”

In other words, grace joins the fight– and fights for us.

And one of the beauty’s of God’s grace goes back to the word effortless– because the unearned, unmerited grace of God effortlessly fights for us. In other words, it steps in at just the right moment and takes over.

If we let it.

For many years, I thought I had to help God with my effort, as if His grace wasn’t enough (wasn’t great). Boy was I wrong. When my heart learned to “Let be and be still” (Psalm 46:10 AMPC), my life was met with great power, great peace, and you guessed it, great grace.

Trust required.

It’s not entirely that I did nothing… It takes faith to rest in God’s faithfulness. Much like a “trust fall” where a person puts all their confidence in those behind them to catch them, you and I have to lean all our trust and conviction on the One who loves us and offers us such great grace.

“The Lord is great and greatly to be praised!” (Psalm 96:4).

Another Psalm reminds us to “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass [He will help]” (Psalm 37:5). Why? Because “His mercies [compassions] fail not; They are new every morning; Great is His faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

I hope I’ve encouraged you to lean on God’s great grace today. If you’re tired, you might be doing things in your own strength. Remember you have a powerful ally.