Have you ever tried to do something and no matter how hard you try you just can’t do it?
For me, that is whistling. No matter how much I try I cannot whistle.
When I was a little girl my brother would spend hours trying to teach me this musical technique, but we would both just end up frustrated. My son has now taken on the responsibility of helping me to achieve this whimsical skill and holds on to the hope that one day I will be able to join the rest of the family in a chorus of beautiful sound.
I have many memories in my life where I have tried to do things, but fell short. When I was in Kindergarten my mother would often receive phone calls from my teacher, because I talked too much in class. I would tell my mother that I was trying to not talk so much, but she would always reply with “try harder”.
As Christians, we sometimes find ourselves thinking that we need to try harder in order to deserve God’s love. However, 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”. The moment you begin to try to perform for God, the more you will see your failure, the more you will distance yourself from God, and the less joy your will have in knowing Him.
It is easy for a Christian to think that God rewards effort, because that is how our entire society is set up: Be responsible. Work hard. Give it your best effort…and you will be rewarded.
This Christmas season focus on getting to know God. Pursue knowing Him better through prayer, reading the Bible, and being in fellowship with other Christians. Be reminded that your faith is not to rest in your effort, but instead in God’s ability to work in your life.
