For much of my early life, I lived by the credo, “If it is to be, it’s up to me.” I did not grow up in the church, and being raised in the school of Midwest grit and work ethic, I learned to believe that if I simply outworked others, my ceiling would be high. But as I came to know Jesus, I began to see the truth more clearly: it was always Him. The work ethic, the talent I had, the opportunities that opened, the people who showed up at the right time, all of it was grace. I still believe deeply in resilience, discipline, and doing the work in front of you, but I also know now that none of it matters unless God blesses it. That realization has not made me less driven, but it has made me more free. We are called to work faithfully, but we must avoid the illusion that we are the source. Grace reminds us to build with humility, lead with gratitude, and remember that the greatest gifts in our lives were never earned in the first place.