30 is the new... 29

Do you ever watch TEDtalks? They are short lectures by smart, inspiring people about anything and everything. Technology, brains, relationships, science, happiness, and so much more. I recently watched one about vulnerability and if what I’m currently learning in life was a musical chord, this video was completely in key. The speaker spoke on the power that comes from sharing who you are with someone else and the desire we all have to belong and be known. And while she was not openly of the Christian faith, she made some profound statements that I think can directly relate to our spiritual lives.  While she was proclaiming the need for human connection (which is important), I truly believe that the greatest desire of every human heart is to be known, understood, and loved, by the only one truly capable of it. The most impacting thing she said was in reference to a new parent and their infant.

“They [the baby] are hardwired for struggle when they get here. And when you hold those perfect little babies in your hand, our job is not to say, ‘Look at her, she’s perfect. My job is just to keep her perfect—make sure she makes the tennis team by the fifth grade and Yale by the seventh grade.’ That’s not our job. Our job is look and say, 'You know what? You’re imperfect, and you’re wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.’”

Do you see the difference in the two statements? One puts value on perfection and performance. No room for struggle or honesty, just expectation and disappointment. I can feel myself putting on my mask to hide my imperfections while typing this out!  Do you know people like that? Who don’t allow you to struggle? Where you have to act perfect or else disappointment will be felt in the room? Maybe you feel like this with God. Like he expects perfection from you and is disappointed when you let him down. If this is you then listen closely. I want you to now imagine God, your heavenly Father, looking at you at this very moment and saying those words we just read above. “This is my daughter. She struggles and will struggle. I love her. She is worthy of belonging and love because when I see her I see my perfect Son. I enjoy her and delight in her.”

Now don’t mishear me. It is absolutely true that God wants and asks for our obedience, but have you ever thought about the fact that God understands our sin better than we do? I get frustrated so often when I struggle with sin. But the truth is, God not only forgives my sin, but his understanding of why I am this way is far greater than mine. He sees the why behind my sin issues. He sees my hurts, my wounds I’m attempting to heal apart from him, and my defense mechanisms I’ve put around my heart like a wall of thick cement. By believing this, we see that we can’t hide any part of us from God and he wants to heal the parts we wish we could hide. If we don’t own and expose our shameful parts to God, we are only participating in behavior modification, not true heart change. So when our heavenly Father is asking for our daily, consistent, full obedience, He isn’t doing so from a distant place of disengagement or judgment. He is demanding our obedience knowing who we are and because of that he is able to tell us what we really need.  

Come clean with God. Bring those masks, defense mechanisms, and pitiful attempts to His feet. Watch and feel his love and compassion wash over you as he breaks your chains. He understands you more than you understand yourself. And tenderly loves you more than you can even grasp. Knowing this will begin the change you’ve wanted to see for so long.

Are there things that God has asked you to do but shame has kept you from pursuing obedience? What has God asked you to do that you are avoiding because you don’t think you are good enough or capable enough?