Stop Striving, You’re Already Loved

Imagine a child who’s just been adopted. The papers are signed, and she’s welcomed into her new family. Everything seems fine—until one morning, she wakes up with dread. Doubts creep in: What if I don’t deserve to stay? What if they find out I don’t really belong here? So, she starts working hard to prove herself—helping around the house, minding her manners—all out of fear that if she fails, she’ll be sent away. It’s tragic because she’s completely misunderstood the relationship. She was already chosen, already loved. Her place in the family was never about performance but about her parents’ love.

And yet, isn’t this exactly how we can treat our relationship with God? We slip into the mindset that staying in His favor depends on our performance. This is what Paul confronted in Galatians 3:1, calling them foolish for thinking they needed works to maintain what they received by faith. So why is it foolish to believe we must earn our place with God?

You Did Nothing to Earn God’s Favor in the First Place

Paul reminds the Galatians that they received the Spirit not by works but by hearing with faith (Galatians 3:2). From salvation to sanctification, everything flows from faith in Christ, not our efforts. It’s like when a friend buys you lunch. You might instinctively say, “No, let me pay,” or “Next one’s on me.” But imagine if you took it further—wiping tables, taking orders, washing dishes—trying to earn the meal. Your friend would look at you and say, “What are you doing? I already paid for it!” This is what Paul is saying: Jesus already paid for it. Trying to earn what’s freely given is foolish. You never earned God’s favor to begin with, so why act as if you must work to keep it?

Even Abraham Did Nothing to Earn God’s Favor

Paul then points to Abraham, the father of Israel. In Genesis 15, God promises Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars. Abraham believed, and God counted it to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Not because of his performance, but because of his faith. So, who are Abraham’s true children? Paul is clear: “It is those of faith who are sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7). Righteousness has always come through faith—not law-keeping. If even Abraham, the great patriarch, was justified by faith, how much more foolish is it to think we must rely on works?

Relying on Works Puts You Under a Curse

Paul drives the point home in Galatians 3:10: “All who rely on works of the law are under a curse.” Imagine hiking down a mountain. One path is nearly vertical—dangerous and impossible. The other is longer but safe and leads where you need to go. The first path is the law—it leads to failure and judgment because none of us can keep it perfectly. But here’s the good news: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). On the cross, Jesus took our place—experiencing separation from the Father so we would never have to. He traded His righteousness for our guilt. To trust in works is to walk back under the curse Christ freed us from. It’s foolish because grace is already ours in Jesus.

Keeping Christ Before Our Eyes

So, how do we guard ourselves against the lie that we must earn what we already have?

Paul points us back to Christ crucified (Galatians 3:1). The Galatians were deceived because they lost sight of Jesus. If we want to avoid the trap of legalism, we must keep Him at the center of our vision.

Here are three ways to do that:

1. Remember the Cross

Keep Scripture before you—verses like:

• “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

• “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Write them on sticky notes, save them as your phone wallpaper—let them shape your thinking daily.

2. Rest in Grace

In a world that values productivity, we can forget that our worth isn’t in what we do but in who we are—God’s children. Take intentional time to stop striving. Pray, journal, reflect, and remember that you are already accepted.

3. Rely on God’s Family

Surround yourself with believers who remind you of grace. Talk about the gospel in your friendships. Read the Bible together. We need one another to keep our eyes on Christ.

Live as a Beloved Child

Remember that adopted child? Imagine her parents finally sitting her down and saying, “You don’t have to earn our love—you already have it.” That’s what God says to us. You don’t need to obey to stay in the family—you obey because you already belong. So, let’s live not as fearful servants, but as beloved children—resting in His grace and walking in faith.