By “What more do I have to do?”
Ever asked that? I sure have.
For years, it was my go-to question whenever life didn’t look like the promises I read in Scripture.
Peace? Joy? Victory? Eventually, they felt more like marketing slogans than reality.
So I tried harder with more prayer, fasting, serving. If there was a spiritual hoop, I jumped through it.
Yet after a decade of doing all the “right things,” I was exhausted, not victorious. Worse, I feared something was wrong with me.
Was my faith broken? Had I let God down?
If you’ve been there, you know the misery. You wonder if God is holding back His blessings until you prove yourself worthy.
But here’s the truth: you weren’t designed for that.
Science backs it up. Pressure impairs performance. Spiritually? It creates fear and shame that keep you stuck.
God’s design is radically different.
Just consider creation. Humanity’s first day was in God’s rest. What’s more, they were placed in Eden (a Hebrew word for “God’s delight”), where beauty and provision flowed effortlessly.
These are just two examples that show you weren’t made to live for God’s pleasure, but from it. (I explore many more from science and Scripture in my book, Permission to Be Imperfect.)
Friend, if perfection is your goal, you’ll burn out. But if you embrace God’s design—resting in His delight—you’ll find the peace and joy you’ve been chasing.
And what’s that kind of rest look like? It’s knowing:
- God isn’t mad at you and
- He isn’t requiring you to earn anything
- because Jesus finished the work.
If this helps you OR challenges you, check out my book Permission to Be Imperfect. I’ll send you a signed copy with free shipping in the US.