Remembering My Firm Foundation

Romans 5:1–2 (NIV): “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”

There are verses in the Bible that don’t just inform us—they steady us. Romans 5:1–2 is one of those. Paul that, through Jesus, we have been “justified through faith,” and because of that we have “peace with God.” Not peace as in “a quiet week with no problems,” but peace as in the deepest relationship in the universe being put right.

Peace as in: you are no longer an outsider, no longer trying to earn your way in, no longer living with the nagging fear that God is fed up with you.

That word “justified” can sound like a bit of church jargon, but’s wonderfully practical. To be justified means, in God’s eyes, you are declared right—acquitted. It’s not God pretending sin didn’t matter; it’s God dealing with sin through the cross, so that you don’t have to carry the weight of it any longer. When we put our faith in Christ, we are welcomed, forgiven, cleansed, and restored—not because we’ve performed well, but because Jesus has.

And then Paul adds this lovely phrase: “this grace in which now stand.” I keep coming back to that image—standing in grace. Not balancing on a tightrope of spiritual achievement. Not clinging on by our fingernails. Standing. Stable. Held. There are days when you and I don’t feel especially strong, especially faithful, or especially holy. Some mornings we wake up with yesterday’s worries still shouting in our heads. Some evenings we replay our mistakes wonder, “How could God still be patient with me?”

But the gospel meets us right there. It says: Brian, you stand in grace. Friend, you stand in grace. You don’t stand on your track record; you stand on Christ’s. You don’t stand in your own strength; you stand in God’s kindness. And because of that, we can face today differently. Not arrogantly, not carelessly—but confidently, quietly, steadily.

Paul goes: “And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” Christian hope isn’t wishful thinking. It isn’t “fingers crossed.” It is a settled confidence in what God has promised and what God will finish. The hope of glory means God is not only forgiving us; he is renewing us. He’s not only rescuing us from our sin; he’s drawing us into his future—into life with him, made whole, made new.

I’ve found that one of the enemy’s favourite tricks is to get us to interpret our struggles as proof that God has left us. Yet often the opposite is true: the very fact that you’re still turning to God, still longing for change, still asking for mercy, is evidence of his Spirit at work in you. The Lord is not standing over you with crossed arms; he is beside you guiding, forgiving, strengthening, and cheering every step of growth.

So this week, when you feel unclean, unworthy, or undeserving, don’t argue with yourself for hours. Bring it into the light quickly. Come back to the cross. Remind your heart: I have peace with God through Jesus. I have access to grace. I stand on a firm foundation. And from that place—steady and loved—take the next faithful step.

And perhaps, gently share that good news with someone else. Because hope isn’t meant to be hoarded. It’s meant to be passed on—one conversation, one prayer, one act of kindness at a time.

Heavenly Father, thank you that through Jesus we have peace with you and access to grace that holds us steady. When we feel ashamed, anxious, or worn down, help us to remember that we stand on Christ’s finished work, not our own efforts. Renew our hope this week, and make us people who carry your quiet confidence into our homes, our work, and our community. In Jesus’ name, Amen.