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It is so easy to be hard on ourselves. When we read the Bible or pay attention to certain other Christians, all we see are the ways that we fall short. And we can't imagine how we could ever match what they do, let alone meet the expectations the word of God sets for us.
What if I told you this attitude doesn't please God? You might think you are being righteous by beating yourself up all the time. However, all you are displaying is pride. Yup, pride, the first sin recorded in the history of the Bible.
Why is this attitude prideful? Because it hinges on your belief that you, and not God, should control your life and make you better. It also makes you, and not the Lord, the judge over your life, ignoring the need to repent and enjoy the grace Jesus died to make available for whenever you fall short. This attitude is hypercritical, thrives on guilt, shame, or condemnation. It also devalues mercy and elevates the mindset that you can rely upon your strength and intelligence to be perfect. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
Human beings were created to rely upon God for wisdom and direction. They weren't created to 'manifest' the lives they want for themselves. This is why Adam and Eve messed up. They were instructed never to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and by disobeying, they tried to circumvent God to gain access to wisdom on their own. They wanted control over their lives in a way that led to their expulsion from the paradise God created for them.
Similarly, God does not want us to think we have to rely on ourselves to become who He created us to be. In fact, anyone who relies upon a person is cursed according to Jeremiah 17:5. And yes, that person they are relying on could be themself. The Lord is responsible for all who choose Him because He loved them and chose them long before they loved Him (1 John 4:19). And for that reason, we are each in the process of becoming the version of ourselves He envisioned before He placed us in our mother's wombs (Jeremiah 1:5).
That process is different for everyone. For instance, even a pair of twins raised in the same household under equal circumstances will experience very different walks with God. That's because He knows what they need, as individuals, to navigate this life. And what one requires might not be necessary for the other sibling.
God knows everything you need to experience so you become who He wants you to be. If you say He is indeed your God, then who are You to challenge His process? Or have You forgotten the warning contained in Isaiah 45:9? It states, “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’?
Why not let Him have His way in your journey of becoming who He intends to make you? Or do you think He will make you something detestable? God is the Father. He makes all His children resemble Him. Is that a bad 'look'? Let me answer that question for you - it isn't. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah will not allow you to resemble a chicken. We're talking about the God who has given us access to the very power that raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:18-21). Why would He want you to be less?
Stop letting satan's lies cheat you of God's best. You have accepted the lie that submission will bring a level of suffering you can't handle. But what sort of struggle would God let you endure on your own? His word tells us that no matter what happens, He will be with us. No matter the temptation, there will be a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). He won't abandon His children. He never has, and you aren't the example He will use to make this point.
Submit yourself fully to the becoming process and the journey He has for you. The quicker you give in, the sooner you will experience the more that He has in store for your life. In humility, give Him what He wants so you get what you need. Leave self-righteousness behind you and ask God to make you righteous. Relinquish control of your life. Let Him have His way. Choose to lean on Him to teach you who He wants you to become so that you please Him and reap the rewards. God bless you!
As you await fellowship at Noon EST, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:
