Grace, as described in the Bible, is God’s free, undeserved gift. It is often associated with salvation and righteousness. However, that is not the angle we are looking at today. Today, we are exploring grace as unmerited favour; the divine enablement that gives a person something they did not and could not earn. (Eph.2:8-9, Rom. 11:6)

Grace is unmerited. If you had to do something to earn it, then it would no longer be grace. Scripture is clear that grace is given freely and sovereignly by God (Eph.2:8-9, Rom. 11:6). However, the Bible also shows us that God often pours out grace through posture, alignment, and obedience—not as a reward, but as an expression of His wisdom (1 Pet. 5:5). These things do not earn grace, but they often describe the kind of vessels God chooses to entrust with it.

Noah received the grace of God to build the ark and to be the messenger of preservation in a time when destruction was looming. Scripture says Noah found grace and favour in God’s sight (Gen. 6:8). Verse 9 goes on to describe Noah as a righteous man who walked habitually with God. This does not mean that Noah’s righteousness earned him grace; rather, it reveals that grace was already at work in his life, producing a man who could walk closely with God. His fellowship did not compel grace, but it positioned him as a suitable vessel for it.

When God instructs someone to build a specific type of ark—something that had never existed before—the recipient of that instruction must be someone who trusts Him (Gen. 6). The grace to be such a vessel rests on someone who can recognize His voice and respond in faith. This kind of grace is not given because of effort, but it is often carried by those who are already walking in obedience and trust. (Heb 11:6)

So, if you are asking God for the grace for healing, it is important to be someone who is in fellowship with Him, not because fellowship earns healing, but because intimacy with God sharpens discernment, builds faith, and aligns the heart to receive what He gives. If you desire the grace for winning souls, you must be someone who recognizes His voice, not as a qualification for grace, but as preparation for stewardship.

It is common these days to see people waste time and opportunity, depending on grace instead of working hard. The grace of God does not absolve us of responsibility, whether spiritual or physical. Grace should never be used as an excuse for laziness in our earthly work or in our walk with God. Scripture teaches that grace trains us to live rightly; it does not excuse irresponsibility. (Tit. 2:11-12, 2Thess. 3:10-12)

The confusion arises when people assume that because grace is unmerited, effort is unnecessary. This is false. You must be doing something. However, it is crucial to understand that it is not that thing that eventually brings the favour. Effort does not force God’s hand, nor does diligence guarantee grace. What effort and faithfulness do is position us, making us ready and able to carry what grace releases when God chooses to give it. (1 Cor. 3:6-7)

Another way to understand this is to recognize that even when effort deserves some form of compensation, grace gives something far greater than what effort could ever merit. That is why grace remains unmerited. Even our best work could not afford what grace freely supplies.

Grace is not a covering for irresponsible behavior. Paul addresses this clearly in Romans 6:1–2, asking whether we should continue in sin so that grace may abound, and immediately rejecting the idea. There is a place for effort, discipline, and obedience in both our spiritual lives and daily responsibilities. The key understanding is that these things do not produce the outcome. We rely on grace, but they do prepare us to receive and steward it. (Gal. 5:13)

Joseph is a clear example of this truth. He was diligent, responsible, and faithful in every place he found himself. His gift made room for him, but it was not his actions alone that took him from prisoner to prime minister. At best, diligence could have earned him freedom. Grace, however, elevated him to second-in-command. His faithfulness explained his readiness; grace explained his promotion. (Gen. 39-41)

In summary, the grace of God is free, sovereign, and given as God chooses. It cannot be earned, demanded, or manipulated. Yet, Scripture shows us that those who walk humbly, faithfully, and obediently are often the ones God entrusts with it—not because they deserve it, but because they are prepared to carry it.