Grace vs. Good Works = CONFUSING!!!

I have grown up my entire life in a church. I was taught not to do this, but to do this, and don’t do that, and don’t wear that, but say this. It’s always been about not sinning and doing good things "for God" while at the same time being taught that you can’t do anything for God and that you cant work your way into heaven. Very confusing. It is almost like the church has trained us to work our way into heaven, but has left us with the fact that we can’t do this. As a kid, I feel like in my head I knew that I couldn’t work my way into heaven, but in my heart I really wanted to. I wanted to insure myself a spot up there! I say "as a kid" but I have thought this my entire life. I’m still thinking it. It’s soo hard. I want to do good things. I am grateful for my salvation and want to thank God for that by doing good works for others. At the same time, I want to do this to make sure that I’m a good Christian and can get into Heaven. There is the verse in Matthew 7 that says, 13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell[f] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” So to me, that says, “You better make sure you are doing everything you can to go through that narrow gate!” In my mind doing everything I can to go through that narrow gate is doing good works, but at the same time I know that good works won’t allow me to earn my way into heaven. I feel like the Bible is very confusing…duh!... and how scary is the last verse!!?!?! Only a few ever find it!!! Then there is this verse in Matthew 7, 21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’”…..um scary! I think I have the fearing God part down really well, but I’m having a hard time just accepting grace. Yes, Jesus died on the cross for us and covered all of our sins future and past, but He also said the things above. I mean, I know we get grace, but there is also stuff required of us and that feels like trying to earn my way into heaven. SO CONFUSING!!!...these are just my thoughts for the day.