For a very long time, salvation was something I believed I didn’t deserve. Shame is a destructive liar. Shame told me to hide. Jesus said, “Come follow me.”
Salvation is a gift of love. A gift we’re given the moment we believe, the moment we accept Christ into our hearts and into our lives. We’re saved by grace through faith. How great the love that paid the cost.
Against the darkness of sin, Ephesians 2:8–9 shines. Salvation happens by grace. It’s not of ourselves, it’s a gift of God. And it’s not by works; it comes through faith.
But we have a responsibility too. To accept that we have done wrong, that we’ve been wronged, but that our identity doesn’t rest in our past, it rests in Christ.
We have a responsibility to say I’m sorry. To seek forgiveness from those we’ve injured and to grant forgiveness to those who’ve injured us. And most importantly, to do better. To turn from sin and to seek God’s grace daily.
Shame says, “You’re unworthy,” Christ says, “Come, follow Me.”
All the years I lived in my shame trained me to believe I would never be enough. That I’d strayed too far for God to hear me. Yet, the moment I fell to my knees in surrender, God was right there. So close, I felt Him.
His love was always greater than my shame. His grace was always greater than my fear.
I felt the truth of salvation when I surrendered. And it rocked me to my core!
No, I wasn’t unworthy. I was a sinner—a lost soul in need of God’s grace. In that moment, I prayed harder than I’d ever prayed. I reached for the faith I’d abandoned. It was there—a small flame, but still burning.
When fear tried to overwhelm me, I trusted. When shame told me to cower, I trusted. And when guilt told me I wasn’t worthy, I trusted. When my need for control tried to take over, I trusted. I believed and held fast to my faith.
Because the truth is, Jesus didn’t come to save the perfect, as no one is perfect. He came to save the sinner, of which I am one. That is salvation. That is grace.
That’s who Christ is. How great the love that paid the cost.
A gift of grace.
The salvation Christ offers isn’t contingent on us. It’s a gift lovingly offered to all.
If you’re waiting for the perfect moment, for a time when you feel less unworthy, you’re missing the mark.
Approach the cross and lay all your brokenness at the feet of Jesus. Don’t cower. Don’t turn away in shame. Seek Him with all you are. He is there.
His love is greater than our sin. His grace is deeper than our fear, and His forgiveness is more powerful than our doubt.
How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, Ephesians 3:18
How far does He cast our sins? As far as the east is from the west.
How high and deep is His love for us? As high and deep as the cross He bore.
How great is His faithfulness? Greater than the depth and breadth of all creation.
How Great the Love that Paid the Cost
How heavy the weight of the world,
He carried up that hill.
How heavy the burden He shouldered,
to do His Father’s will.
How heavy the magnitude of sin
that nailed Him to the cross.
How heavy the price He paid in blood,
for every one of us.
But, oh, how great the love
that gave Him the strength to bear.
How great the faithfulness it took
for Him to persevere.
How great the mercy and the grace
that accepted every wound.
How great the sacrifice He made,
in place of me and you.
How heavy the darkness that followed,
As deep as the veil was torn.
How heavy the hearts of His chosen,
the ones now left to mourn.
How heavy the anguish they witnessed,
As deep as their grief and despair.
How heavy the faith they now carried,
In the absence of the Lord.
But, oh, how great the promise,
that filled the empty tomb.
How great the miracle revealed,
when He appeared inside that room.
How great the joy that filled them.
How great the light that shone
from the face of the Risen Savior,
and the truth sealed by His wounds.
Oh, how great the love.
How great the mercy and grace.
How great the price of forgiveness
Our Savior willingly paid.
How great the gift of salvation,
and the freedom it brings.
How great the love of our Savior,
and the life received in His name.
Amen.
JN Fenwick (©2026)
JN Fenwick | mothjournal14 | ©2026 | All rights reserved. | I DO NOT WALK THIS RECOVERY JOURNEY ALONE.
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