And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. (Psalms 31:1)
Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. (Psalms 71:2)
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other]. (Psalms 85:10)
Righteousness and peace of mind - that peace that is beyond understanding - run together. There cannot be any fear involved.
For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance [for] clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. (Isaiah 59:17)
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)
But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
Stop looking for righteousness in people, it isn't there. We were permanently placed into this condition due to Adam's sin. God cursed his offspring which is us. We can't do it right no matter how hard we try. We are all at God's mercy and God only sees Jesus Christ His son. He purchased us [sinners, as we are] with His blood. He wants us for His bride because Israel who was His wife rejected Him. God divorced Israel and chose us [Gentiles and Jews who accept Christ Jesus as their Messiah] as His bride.
Until you get the idea that he literally purchased all those who accept Him as their God, Lord and Savior, Redeemer, you will struggle with trying to find God down here on earth somehow in action.
I was raised Lutheran which is very close to Catholicism and they believe that you have to be good to get there. The reality of the Gospel is that you become good after you truly "BELIEVE" and understand the truth, because you love your future husband "JESUS CHRIST" for what He did for you. The bridal gown you receive by saying "YES" is HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS which covers you from head to toe. How can you lose or believe what the world tells you about yourself. They don't want you to get the truth because they don't want to accept what Jesus offers.
That was the big trap for me. I believed that people somehow had to show me that they were really truly emulating God or be a reflection of Him, so I could believe that there is a God. God wants us to believe HIM and just simply believe without concrete proof. Until we can do that we don't really have the faith He needs to see in us to trust us to be His. That is the hardest part about the Good News. It is too simple for us to get it. We want it to be complicated. That is what it means, it is a gift. How can anyone earn a gift.
XX21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment [is Christ Jesus] spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto HIM that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (Jude 1:21-24)
He presents you faultless because He has clothed you in His righteousness. NEVER FORGET THAT.
Consider your past dead. God places into the sea of forgetfulness.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)