Freedom

What does Christ free us from?

One thing that I am starting to realize is that Christ frees me from having to be good and right. So many times I worry about trying to be good, about trying to make sure other people see or know that I am doing good. That can definitely be exhausting and a lot of work. Because in doing that, I am really working against the nature of things in this world. In reality, I am not good. I'm not quite sure when I'll fully realize this, but I am not good. God is good! The things I try to do on my own to be good end up failing most of the time, or at least falling short. There is a great amount of freedom in realizing that I'm not good. It takes faith to come to know that God is the good one. It's only things that God does that are truly good.

The same thing goes for trying to be right. For much of my life, I've tried to be right about anything and everything. I have been and must continue to be the smart one. However, once again, it is exhausting, not to mention impossible and limiting to always have to be right. I think this want of mine to be right has really limited me in speaking into people's lives. It has limited my ability to brainstorm and try out new things because somewhere inside me I feel the need that I have to be right in all that I do. Once again, in Christ, realizing that I don't have to be right or have all the answers is extremely freeing. I just need to know the one who is always right and knows it all. I don't have to worry about sticking up for myself and coming up with reasons why what I did was good or right. Because chances are, I was not good or right. This is freeing to know that I can be wrong and it is alright. I do not have to try to defend myself. I can admit to it and own up to it. It's just part of who I am; I am human.

Living like this is also a lesson in humility. But it's not shameful to be humble in this way, to own up to my own shortcomings and faults. It is just realizing the truth and accepting me for who I am. I think so many times it is very tough for me to accept myself. The irony is that I am potentially my best critic. I know countless ways in which I am not good and not right. It seems strange to me that I would try to put up this façade for other people that I am. The beauty of our God is that He loves and accepts me for who I am. If He, the one who created me, can accept me, I have no reason not to do that same.

Each day I just need to try my best. This is all God asks of me. It is better to fail trying than to fail not trying. This is the freedom in Christ's sacrifice. He died so that I can live my best and try my best in following him. Christ has freed me from the need to focus on all the rules. He has freed me from the need to reach a certain quota or to be good enough. All God asks me to do is to believe in the one He has sent. God asks me to do my best in loving Him and other people.