The Weight of Grace

Many times in my life, I’ve heard people say, “Just give me grace.” Without thinking, my impatience and indignation often fuel my response. I put the person on an internal clock—a mental countdown for how long they have until my “grace” runs dry. Or I add another tally to how many times I have already done this. Yet, how would I feel if God did this to me? I never truly considered what it means to give grace—until I tried, recently, to look at it from God’s perspective.

In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asks Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus responds, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Jesus’s response shows us that grace can’t be measured or rationed. The seemingly random number reflects that it doesn’t matter if it’s 777. It’s not about keeping count. It’s about embodying a limitless, unconditional love. It’s about reflecting the grace we have received from God.

Grace is no simple thing. The Bible says to love God with all our heart. It also says to love our neighbor as ourselves. These are the two great commandments, with a profound implication woven in. Loving others assumes we understand what it means to love ourselves. The Bible calls us to love God, see ourselves as He does, and extend that same love to others. Grace is integral to that love. It’s a care package from God that contains compassion, love, forgiveness, patience, humility, and a lack of judgment. Because grace is freely given to us by God, we are called to receive it into ourselves and freely give it to others. We are made in His image, after all, and called to reflect His nature. But if that’s true, why is it so hard to give grace?

Grace challenges us. It requires two things. First, we must see others in their God-given potential. Second, we must recognize that same potential in ourselves. Often, our struggle begins with the latter. If we cannot see ourselves as image-bearers of God, it becomes harder to extend that grace to others. Imagine if you could see your neighbor as they will be in eternity, fully realized in all their splendor. You might be so overwhelmed by their beauty and majesty that you’d fall on your face in awe. But then you would have to say, “Wait a minute, I’m also an image-bearer.” Seeing ourselves as God sees us transforms not only how we view ourselves but also how we see others. It lifts the burden of grace. It reminds us that it’s not about perfection. It’s about reflecting the unconditional love we’ve received.

My mom once told me about her moment of salvation. It was when she realized that God loved her, even though she didn’t feel worthy of it. “Me?” She said, “God loves me?” Romans 5:8 ties beautifully to her experience: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Similarly, what astonished me recently was realizing how God sees me. That His grace comes from His viewpoint. He exists in eternity. I exist in time. Meaning, He does not see me only in my brokenness; He sees me how I will be in eternity, perfect and complete. This is difficult for me to fathom.

We find value in ourselves and people based on what we see in our limited perspective. We make all sorts of assumptions of goodness and badness based on external factors like; wealth, status, and appearance. God sees beneath the surface and beyond. People are more than they appear, filled with spirit and endless possibility. So, we should respond as God does: with patience, love, and kindness.

Grace weighs on us for this very reason. It demands a different set of eyes. It’s easy to forgive a stranger who cuts you off in traffic, but much harder when the offense comes from a loved one. Think about how long you sit with the hurt, how much it angers you, and how hard it is to let go.

Now multiply that by billions. God extends grace to every soul on earth. This includes those who deny Him, worship false gods, or live in rebellion. His grace is unlimited, universal, and unconditional. It’s a weight He carries with zero effort. Forgiving one person can feel impossible. Now, imagine extending grace to every person on earth—8 billion flawed souls. That’s God!

Proverbs 19:11 offers wisdom here: “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” When we pass over a transgression, we reflect God’s glory. Grace transforms our relationships. It mirrors God’s patience and forgiveness. Human pride often blocks us from extending grace. We think others should “earn” our forgiveness. We forget that grace, by definition, is unearned. But God, in His infinite love, calls us to rise above this natural impulse.

The work of Christ on the cross demonstrates our worth to God. We live in a world that often undervalues life. But Jesus’ sacrifice shows our value and how much we mean to Him. By laying down His life, He showed that grace is costly yet freely given, inviting us to value others as He values us. With Him, we become new creatures—renewed in mind and vision.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is when Paul talks about the thorn in his flesh. He begged God to remove it, but God replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) When Paul reflected on his thorn, he likely felt shame and guilt. I’ve found that guilt or shame often leads to harsher judgments of others. This weakens the grace we give others and causes us to hide, which is the opposite of what God wants. God wants us to walk confidently in our identity, and in Paul’s case, his authority. Paul’s thorn reminded him of his humanity, but it also became a platform for God’s strength. This truth also challenges us to believe that just as God has transformed us, He can transform others. When we embrace grace, it lifts us beyond our weaknesses, allowing us to reflect God’s love more fully.

When we accept God’s grace, we are called to extend it to others. It’s not easy—it’s heavy. Seeing others as God does, and ourselves in that light, makes grace a gift, not a burden. If you’re struggling to show grace, start by praying for the person who has hurt you. Ask God to help you see them as He does. Then take one small step: forgive, don’t judge, don’t retaliate. The weight of grace is heavy, but we don’t carry it alone. Let us carry it as Christ carried the cross—with humility, love, and the vision of who we all can be in eternity. And let us remember, as Proverbs 19:11 says, that it is to our glory to pass over a transgression.

I leave you with one question: who in your life could you extend grace to today?