There Is No Try
“…let the Holy Spirit guide your lives” (Gal. 5:16).
Today I made myself an amazing breakfast. Ironically, this was to celebrate the first time I have exercised in a month – I figured it was a fitting reward. As I chomped heartily on my eggs and drank my grapefruit juice, I put on Joyce Meyer.
Wow. It’s been a really long time since I’ve watched Joyce. I used to watch Joyce Meyer daily in college. Hugh and I traveled to her conferences while we were dating and I cried the first time I saw her live. Joyce was my first Bible teacher, the first person who showed me how to enjoy the Word.
Joyce, I’m happy to report, is doing well. She looks great and is still speaking truth that pierces me within two minutes of watching her program. My nugget from Joyce for today is:
You’re not a failure because you fail. You’re a failure if you stop trying.
It was a “push-pause-and-take-a-breath” moment for me. I struggle with feeling like a failure in so many areas, instead of focusing on all the many ways the Lord has brought victory in my life. And the areas that need some work? Well, I’m trying.
But here is the other part of it for me. I spend A LOT of time trying. Trying to be the ideal mom, a great friend, accomplished homemaker, wife, and church volunteer. It would only take me about two seconds to come up with a HUGE list of the many ways I need to improve in each of those areas. I am painfully aware of my shortcomings.
Instead of spending so much time trying, I want to learn to slow down and celebrate where I am. To find the joy in this moment. Instead of focusing on the poor behavior of my children – I could spend some time enjoying my children. Ohh…to laugh with my two year old…to build a fort with my son…to make a mess with flour and sugar while making cookies with my daughter. These are the things I long to do – and I end up not doing them because I’m too busy trying to be a better mother.
There is joy here and now. This part of the journey is filled with blessings to savor and taste. There are moments of overwhelming peace and contentment to be found today. There is nothing more I need to do, nothing more I need to become in order to begin experiencing joy.
I simply need to ask. And then, through the power of Christ in me, I can slow down and take in all richness of the life that He offers me daily.
Lord, thank you for Your grace. I ask You to fill me with a sense of Your contentment and peace about who I am in You. Please show me the little joys hidden in my life. I love You, Jesus…
girl, feel like you are reading my mind! Just last night, I felt the need to remind God of all the things I suck at. Why is enjoying life and kids always so hard? My girlfriend’s little girl said the way to attain JOY is J-esus, O-thers, then Y-ou! I think I needed that. Thanks for the blog!
I have been where you are. Until the day the Lord gave me a passge of scripture. Mary hath chosen the better thing and it shall not be taken from her. He was speaking to Martha. I was so very much a ‘Martha’ on overdrive. Trying to be a good wife, mother etc, just as you describe. It’s ok to slow down and give more time to the Lord. That’s right where He desires you to be. Just love and worship Him and everything else WILL work itself out.
Found your blog through faithlifts and it’s been very encouraging to me. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve read your blog and identified with what you said. Today was no exception. So many times I find myself trying, trying, trying, and in the midst of all the trying, I lose the joy of little blessings throughout the day and I lose sight of what I can and already have done. Thank you for being so transparent in your writings, I love knowing I’m not alone!
Hey– thanks for hitting home with me yet again! You are so speaking my language… today has been a day for feeling like a failure… thanks for reminding me I am only a failure if I quit trying!
This really spoke to me, I needed to hear it! Thanks for your honesty, as usual. You know I love you!
Yes, great post. Thank you. God bless.
Chris J.