One of the greatest challenges of the spiritual life is learning to walk the tightrope between what we do and what God does.
In most areas of life, if you want something, you go out and work for it. You earn it. You grab the bull by the horns and take control. And it’s true: hard work pays off.
But that’s not how God works, nor how we reach heaven.
Yes, we are called to work hard, to be diligent in our responsibilities. But at the end of the day, salvation is not something we earn; it’s a gift of grace—a gift joyfully given by God and one that calls to be joyfully received.
And receiving it means letting go of our white-knuckle grip on control.
So often, we are like the monkey who slips his hand into a jar, grabs a treat, and then finds his hand stuck, unable to pull it out without releasing the prize. We hold on so tightly to the things we think we need that we miss the freedom God offers. Sometimes, we’ve got both hands stuck in different jars—straining to hold on to our plans, our ambitions, our fears—all while God is waiting to give us something far greater.
But His gifts can only be received with open hands.