Trying Too Hard

It’s always when I am putting in my absolute best efforts to be “better” that I ultimately fail miserably at the task. My smile twitches behind each repressed irritation and my patience withers under the weight of too many voluntary obligations. The joy I began the day with slowly dissipates into defeat and disappointment because I couldn’t measure up to my own expectations. Sitting in the space of discouragement internally echoing the persistent cry, “but, I am trying so hard, Lord!”

This is definitely not what Jesus had intended for me when He died on the cross. He didn’t intend for me to try because His love isn’t something that can be earned. Paul addresses the Galatians asking, “Are you going to continue this craziness?” (Galatians 3:2-4 MSG). It’s insane to think we can do this on our own. So, how long? How long do we continue an endless empty cycle and consistent pursuit of Godly perfection? God does want us to relentlessly pursue Him, but, ‘...anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure.” (Galatians 3:11-12 MSG). This failure is so evident when I begin to remove God from the equation. In efforts to not disappoint God or anyone around me, I am no longer being led by the Holy Spirit within me, but rather by my own motives. “Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you.” (Galatians 3:11-12 MSG). Paul is saying that it is impossible to enter in what God has for me if I am focused on all the things I can do for God.

The Galatians were mentally plagued, thinking they still had to earn God’s love. The Laws were originally intended for “protection” and “to keep sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ (the descendant) came...” (Galatians 3: 23-24 MSG) (Galatians 3:18-20 MSG). The very thing in place to protect them was now the division between them and God. Life had become a monotonous routine of rituals. Pride persuades us that we are doing all the “right” things and our seat is undoubtedly secured in Heaven. Pride is the steady course that seems so right, but is all so wrong. Denying the want to fulfill my own will allows God to step in and fulfill His.

Paul declared, “We are all able to receive God’s life, his Spirit, in and with us by believing–just the way Abraham received it.” (Galatians 3:13-14 MSG). There is not one person set apart from that promise. The weary road of rules and regulations is never satisfying. We can be seated right in the house of the Lord, actively involved, well-known and yet feel terribly far from God. This revelation is an invitation by Jesus to lay down our needs, our wants, our thoughts and our motives at the foot of the cross. At the very place where Jesus, “...became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse.” (Galatians 3:13-14 MSG). Jesus has set us free from obligation and gives a love that flows freely for a heart open to receive it. So, now we can stop trying so hard to please the Lord, but rather step into his “...good, pleasing and perfect will!” (Romans 12:2 NLT).