I have often wrestled with the concept of grace, especially the idea that it is something completely beyond my reach. If grace is truly grace, it is not something I can earn or discover on my own. It must come to me, freely given by God. Karl Barth captures this precisely: “Grace is inaccessible to us: how else can it be grace? Only grace can make itself accessible.”[1]
There have been moments in my life when I’ve felt the undeniable presence of grace—times when I knew I didn’t deserve it, yet there it was. Looking back, I realize even the ability to recognize those moments was a gift. Barth says, “To remember grace is itself the work of grace. The perception of grace is itself grace.”[2] This resonates deeply with me. When I recall God’s grace—whether through an unexpected kindness, a moment of clarity, or the peace that comes in Christ—I see now that those memories are not my own doing. They, too, are God’s grace at work in me.
This realization makes the world come alive in a new way. Even my memories of God’s faithfulness—whether through Jesus, others, or events—become fresh causes for gratitude. They remind me that grace is woven through every relationship, every moment, and every breath. I’m learning to see my life, with all its twists and turns, as a canvas painted with God’s grace, and this awareness fills me with thankfulness.
The truth that “the perception of grace is itself grace” challenges and humbles me. It’s a reminder that everything, even the ability to see and acknowledge God’s presence, is a gift. In those moments when I feel distant or unworthy, I cling to this truth: grace has always been, and will always be, enough.
[1]Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics IV/1, 45.
[2] Ibid.