“How do I gain God’s Approval?”
There’s a moment in every believer’s life when you come face-to-face with God’s Law, and it feels like standing at a spiritual crossroads. You may not recognize it right away, but it happens when your efforts to “do better” aren’t working… when the guilt won’t go away… when your good intentions fall short again… and again.
It’s the moment when your heart quietly whispers,
“Maybe I’m not enough.”
And you’re right.
That’s exactly what the Law of God reveals.
When God Gave the 10 Commandments – It was a Gift
For the Israelites, this moment came after their dramatic rescue from slavery in Egypt. God had delivered them with miracles, signs, and wonders. He brought them out of bondage not because they earned it, but because of His faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham. They were saved by grace, not works, and it was only after this deliverance that God gave them the Law at Mount Sinai.
The Law wasn’t a burden meant to crush them—it was a gift of covenant relationship. God established Israel as His treasured possession, a holy nation set apart to reflect His character in the world. He gave them instructions not only for worship, but also for everyday life: how to rest, how to treat one another, how to pursue justice, and how to live with purity and reverence. The Law shaped Israel’s national identity. They would no longer belong to Pharaoh or pagan culture—they belonged to the living God.
The Commandments Reveal God’s Character
The Ten Commandments, in particular, are more than just a list of dos and don’ts. They are a window into who God is—His heart, His holiness, His justice, and His love. They show that God is set apart—completely pure, morally perfect, and utterly different from sinful humanity. Through these commandments, we see a righteous and relational God who demands obedience and invites His people to walk closely with Him in truth and grace.
These laws shaped Israel’s culture at every level. Their worship, ethics, relationships, and rest patterns were distinct. These visible differences set them apart from their pagan neighbors and made it clear that they belonged to a different King. Their obedience to the Law wasn’t just about personal holiness—it was missional. They were to reflect God’s holiness, mercy, and justice to a watching world.
The Law Also Shows, “We Can’t Do It.”
While the Law outlined the life of holiness, it also exposed how far short humanity falls. Israel’s story became a cycle of failure, repentance, mercy, and restoration, a pattern unlike ours. The Law didn’t make them sinners; it revealed they already were. It does the same for us.
No matter our background or effort, no one meets the standard. The Law dismantles the illusion that we can be “good enough” to earn God’s approval. It reveals that the core issue isn’t just behavior—it’s the heart. Sin runs deep. While the law points out the problem, it cannot fix it. We need more than commandments—we need a Savior.
God’s Word is clear:
“Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” — Romans 3:20
The Law tells the truth about us. Our best efforts are stained by selfishness, pride, fear, or impure motives. We break God’s commandments—not just with our hands, but with our thoughts, words, and desires.
The Law shows us that we can’t save ourselves.
But that’s not where the story ends.
Law Leads Us to Jesus
The Apostle Paul said the Law was our tutor to lead us to Christ. It was never meant to save—it was meant to prepare hearts for grace. It shows us that we cannot rescue ourselves and drives us to the One who can.
This is the great crossroads the Law brings us to: Will you keep trying to justify yourself—striving, performing, trying to prove your worth—or will you admit your inability and throw yourself on God’s mercy?
One path leads to spiritual exhaustion and death. The other leads to peace and life, not because you walked it perfectly, but because Jesus already did. He fulfilled the Law completely and took the penalty for your failure. The Law says, “You can’t do it.” Jesus says, “I already did it for you.”
Jesus didn’t come to lower the standard—He came to fulfill it perfectly on your behalf.
- He lived the sinless life you could never live.
- He met every requirement of the Law completely.
- And then, in stunning love, He took your place on the cross.
“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” — Romans 10:4
You don’t have to keep climbing the mountain of performance. Jesus already climbed it and carried you to the top.
Why This Matters for Your Mental and Spiritual Health
As a Christian counselor, I often meet women who are tired. Not just physically, but spiritually drained from carrying the weight of religious performance. They’re stuck in cycles of trying harder, falling short, and feeling ashamed. They’ve been trying to earn God’s approval, but the truth is: they were never meant to. And neither are you.
The gospel frees us from the performance trap. You don’t have to be enough, because Jesus is. The Law shows your need, and grace meets it.
So, Which Path Will You Choose?
Every person must answer this question: Will I keep striving under the weight of the Law, or will I surrender to the grace of the One who fulfilled it for me?
One way leads to endless striving.
The other leads to rest in the finished work of Christ, where God’s approval is not achieved, but received through faith.
The choice is yours.
And the invitation is always open.
Would you like to talk this through with someone who understands both the heartache and the hope of that crossroads? I offer Christ-centered counseling to help you move from striving to surrender, and from performance to peace.
👉 Schedule a free 20-minute consultation
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🌐 www.areyoureadycounseling.com
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