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Do you ever feel like you are not doing enough for God? Maybe you have moments when you wonder if you should pray more, read more, serve more, or somehow “be better” so God will be pleased with you. For many Christian women, this pressure becomes a quiet but constant weight that whispers, “You are falling behind spiritually.” In today’s episode, we confront that pressure head-on by looking at one of the most powerful and freeing stories in Scripture, the thief on the cross.
This episode explores how easily we slip into a performance mindset without even noticing. We begin thinking God approves us when we are consistent, disappointed when we fall short, and closer to us only when we are spiritually productive. Yet this mindset is not biblical, and it is not how God relates to His children. Jesus dismantled this pressure with one declaration: “It is finished.” Not “it is started,” not “keep trying harder,” but completely, fully finished. Salvation is the gift of God, rooted in grace from beginning to end.
To show this clearly, we walk through Luke 23 and revisit the moment when the dying thief looked to Jesus. He had no good works, no spiritual résumé, no time to change his behavior, and no opportunity to clean up his life. He simply believed. And Jesus responded with mercy: “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” This moment reveals a deep truth we often forget. The thief brought nothing but trust. Jesus brought everything else. His story becomes a living illustration of salvation by grace alone.
In this episode, we also talk about the drift that happens when fear, shame, comparison, and old patterns make us feel like we must earn God’s approval. Many women feel like their spiritual worth rises and falls with their performance, which leads to anxiety, discouragement, and distance from God. But the Bible reminds us again and again that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, not by effort, and not by our ability to maintain perfection. God is not waiting for us to impress Him. He is inviting us to trust Him.
We walk through the Romans Road to show how Scripture outlines a simple and beautiful path to salvation. Every verse highlights our need, God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, and the invitation to believe. The thief on the cross mirrors these truths perfectly. He confessed, believed, and received the gift of eternal life. His story silences the fear that we are not doing enough and replaces it with confidence in what Jesus has already done.
This episode also includes a powerful sermon excerpt, read word for word, that explains why the only correct answer to “Why are you saved?” is never “Because I…” but always “Because He…” It is a stirring reminder that most of our Christian life rests not in our performance, but in what Christ accomplished on our behalf.
Whether you struggle with comparison, spiritual perfectionism, or fear that you are disappointing God, this conversation will help you breathe again. You will hear that God is not keeping a performance scorecard. He is not tallying your successes and failures. His love is not fragile, conditional, or dependent on your ability to maintain momentum. He looks at you through the finished work of Jesus.
By the end of this episode, you will walk away with a renewed understanding of grace, a clearer picture of the gospel, and a heart that feels lighter. The thief on the cross reminds every one of us that salvation is not earned. It is received. And once you receive it, you are held securely by the One who finished the work.
If you are ready to break free from the pressure to perform, this episode will encourage you, ground you in truth, and help you rest in the freedom Jesus already purchased for you.
Website: www.hopeandhealinglifecoach.com
Email: amydonathan@hopeandhealing.faith
17 Min.