How do I know if I’m actually doing “my best”?

This has been a question on my mind for years now.

When well-intentioned people say, “You don’t have to be perfect, just try your best!”

It’s a little confusing because every day looks drastically different for me.

And so how do I know if I’ve actually done my best, or if I’ve fallen short with a mediocre effort for the day?

Most of us are familiar with this famous scripture in 2 Nephi 25:23:

“For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

Initially, it’s easy to think that we have to do ALL we can do first, and then Christ steps in with grace to fill the gap.

But the more I have studied and learned and pondered about grace, I’ve realized—

Christ’s grace is what enables us to even try to “do our best” each day.

Sure— my mental capacities, busy schedule, attitude, health… they all affect what my “best” could possibly look like each day from the outside.

But I think that our outward results don’t really always convey where our hearts are at.

I think doing “my best” or “all I can do” each day actually means that my heart is turned to my Savior.

The dishes may or may not get done, my scripture study may or may not be meaningful, I may or may not have time to serve someone else…

That stuff changes all the time.

But Jesus asks that we always remember Him.

He’s invited us to covenant to do that, in fact.

And if we turn our minds to Jesus over and over again, if we are spiritually-minded, if we repent constantly, if we praise God…

Then our Savior’s grace is with us all day (and all night) long.

“We must do our best, which includes repentance, but it is only through the Lord’s grace that we can realize our divine potential.” – Clark G. Gilbert

We will never earn grace.

“Our best” from an outside viewpoint will never be enough.

But crafting a covenant relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ will create the best and most grace-filled days imaginable!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

Share:

Facebook
Pinterest
Email
Print

4 Responses

  1. Yeah, if you read the passage according to the English of Joseph Smith’s time, it doesn’t mean whatever we do makes any difference. It means no matter what we do good or bad, He still loves us and gives us grace. It’s just like you and your children, you always love them, no matter what. Yes, we should always be trying to improve and to show love to serve, but no matter what we do, God always loves us and gives us grace.

  2. Thanks so much for these thoughts today. I have been struggling to feel like I am ding my best or even giving my relationship with God a good effort each day. But I think of Him many times throughout the day and of Jesus Christ. I just can’t quite figure out what else it is that I need to do. Maybe thinking about them and doing what I can is enough for where I am right now.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I accept the Privacy Policy

Keep Studying

Related Posts

Powerful leaders 

Do you have a leadership calling in the church right now? When I read the history of the Jaredites, there seems to be one common

The wind doesn’t stop 

I’ve got some winds blowing in my life right now. ⁣ It seems like the winds never stop. ⁣ I try to block things out

Gratitude in the barge 

Can you imagine stepping into a barge, knowing that you wouldn’t be on dry land for who-knows-how-long, with absolutely no way to steer the vessel?!

Friends in the Book of Mormon 

If you would’ve asked high school Cali what it meant to be a good friend, I probably would have said something like:⁣ “Someone who invites

The forest and the trees

The brother of Jared had a concern: “O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we steer? And also we shall perish, for