It takes a great deal of grit to keep going in the face of things that feel like a fast closing tsunami on a flat plain with no higher ground in sight.
It takes courage to look past the comparison of your real life when you’re constantly thinking other people’s ‘show reels’ are their real life.
It take determination to face another day of the same challenges, the same demands, the same brokenness.
I’m thinking of you today and praying a safe space for you to lower your guard, to lay down this load of perfection, to come out from behind the screen and allow yourself to be really seen.
The internet has its wonderful graces but it has helped us all to live under the sin of covetousness and comparison.
It’s made us look at our ‘neighbour’s’ (aren’t we all neighbours now?) parenting skills, slim thighs, attractive partner, exotic holiday locations, pin worthy bedroom makeover and let our hearts be dismayed.
Covetousness is a robber. God knew when we went down that path – the path that makes us focus on our flaws, our lack, our disappointments – we were never going to return healthier, more motivated, more gracious to ourselves, quicker to forgive the less than perfect people we share our lives with.
To a people just delivered from slavery we see God establishing a set of safeguards to keep them again from self-inflicted slavery.
Because, dear heart, when you start to focus on how everyone else is getting it right, how their load is easier, how their grass is greener you have entangled yourself again in slavery. You have become a slave to an ideal that not only is impossible to meet, but an ideal that isn’t true.
Your imagination is making more of the greener grass than reality would suggest.
Jesus says, come to me you who are burdened and I will give you rest.
He invites us to unburden ourselves and be clothed in something that doesn’t require us to get it right. It requires us to admit we can’t.
When we start living free we release others to do the same. When we lower our guard and admit friend to friend, heart to heart, face to face that we are struggling we will either find that we have freed someone else to admit the same, or, we will find a safe place to be loved despite it all. Surely either of those are a better offer than the struggle of trying so hard to be all we cannot be.
Today instead of looking at someone’s perfect life online how about taking time to connect with someone offline?
How about we all ask to be delivered from the trap of covetousness and instead see ourselves for what we are – the radically loved, forgiven, cherished children of the Most High. Because that is what we are.
See how safe you are to be imperfect? We are all imperfect and any who present as less than are probably drowning in a terrible tide of overwhelming pressure to continue the facade.
Let’s use our determination, our grit, our courage to hold onto our freedom in Christ and certainly not let ourselves be burdened with a yoke of slavery that demands perfection.
Instead, we rest in the Grace of the One who knows us as imperfect and loves us all the same.
Be loved beautiful ones.
Father let us rest today in your care, unburdened and free from comparison, covetousness, and perfectionism. Let us be found secure in you, becoming whole and fully rescued. Give us strength to face the battles in our lives knowing we are not alone, nor will we ever be. You have promised to be with us always, and you always deliver on your promises.
Miriam Jessie 