When Strivings CeaseSample

Against the glory of God, we, in our natural unredeemed state, are all disappointments. We’ve all missed the mark. Believing and thinking anything different keeps us in an endless cycle of thinking we're capable of saving ourselves.

The holiness of God found us lacking.

The mercy of God sent Jesus to bear the punishment we deserve.

The righteousness of God declared us forgiven.

The goodness of God reshapes us into his likeness.

The love of God overcomes evil so we might share in all that is Christ’s.

It’s hard to feel disappointment when you think of all God has accomplished for your good and your redemption. When God is great, our met expectations can’t be. Striving to avoid disappointment becomes an empty sales pitch. Turns out, all our efforts to skirt the feelings of disappointment keep us from the very surrender we were meant to know. We were meant to experience the reality and disappointment of never being enough in our own merits and abilities.

It’s really good news, friend. In our own strength, standing in our own track records, we don’t measure up. You don’t. I don’t. Your pastor doesn’t. Your spouse can’t. The parent who failed won’t. Your kids never will.

You and I are freed from disappointment in others and disappointment in ourselves, not because we can let it go but because God stops us in the middle of our striving and comes after us. He doesn’t let us go, let us go on in our merit-building, approval-chasing, people-pleasing, or measuring up. He meets us right where pride and shame have left us stuck and disappointed, and sets out the welcome mat of grace for me and for you. We need only to leave where we’ve been and step in.

Prayer

Father, I am overwhelmed when I think of how much you love me and what that love means for me. Thank you for redeeming me, and thank you for meeting me where I am so that I can experience all you have set before me. Amen.