Jesus, who (unlike us) could do everything, didn’t.
“One-Track Mind” from Awaken by Priscilla Shirer
Jesus could–can–do everything. EVERYTHING.
He could have healed every sick or hurting or crippled person on earth.
He could have touched every broken heart and made it brand-new.
He could have stopped all crime.
He could have crashed every funeral and raised all the dead.
He could have wiped away every tear.
He could have given children to the barren, spouses to the unmarried, parents to the orphans, friends/family to the lonely.
He could have removed evil politicians/rulers and put godly, kind ones in their place.
He could have freed his nation from their physical/monetary bondage.
He could have struck all people (especially the Pharisees) with the realization that they needed to change, and given them the courage/strength/willingness to do it.
But He didn’t.
And it wasn’t because He didn’t care. It wasn’t because He didn’t feel like helping/healing all the time. It wasn’t because only the privileged chosen ones could receive His touch of grace.
It wasn’t His assignment. It wasn’t His job. It wasn’t why He came. His mission–the reason He was born–was to do what His Father said. And His Father didn’t say to fix every problem or person He came across.
Jesus could have done anything and everything. . . But He didn’t.
So why do we think we have to?
Why do we feel like we have to accomplish every item on a lo-ooo-ng list that we (or others) write? Why do we believe we have to meet every goal, every expectation, every wish and dream? Why do we try to do and be everything?
First off, we can’t. We literally cannot do everything. Second off, I don’t think God wants us to.
He doesn’t want us rushing around, trying to get it all done, stressing ourselves out, beating ourselves up when we fail, or taking our frustration out on others. He doesn’t want us to think that “this is what makes me who I am, this is how I get love/attention/support, this is making me good/worthy, etc.” He doesn’t want us relying on our good works to save us.
Because it doesn’t work. What we do will not save us. The belief that our actions and accomplishments are what makes us “good enough” will turn out to be false and let us down. How well and how much and how impressive of things we do will not change His love for us in any way.
It’s Jesus. Jesus who saves us. Jesus who makes us accepted and loved. Jesus who caused a way for us to be forgiven. Jesus who changes us and makes us who we are, who we should be. It’s all up to Him; it’s all by and through Him.
Rest in the fact that His grace is enough. You have the freedom of not having to live up to everyone’s expectations (including yours), of not needing to check off this and this and that, of not being required to do everything.
Relish it.
