Where the Real Jesus is Found

The real Jesus may seem elusive, hidden, and unavailable. I believe He is to some people. For years of my life, He was to me. All I had known was religion. You know that thing that tells you what YOU have to do to be good enough for God then He’ll love you and find some use for you. I could never quite reach “good enough”. Not in my spiritual or natural life. I know the reason now is that there is no such place as “good enough” because that’s not the requirement.

We wrestle our entire lives to be “enough”. Good enough, strong enough, smart enough, pretty or handsome enough, right enough, competent enough, and successful enough. All the while feeling that we are constantly falling short. What would you say to abandoning yourself to accept that you’re not enough?

Well, you know what the truth is, we are; not quite good enough. None of us. No matter how successful, beautiful, intelligent, we fall short of every ideal, and deep down inside we know it.

In our education systems some don’t differentiate between those who do well and those who don’t because it may cause children to feel bad about themselves, we give each child the same accolades and rewards, no matter how they perform. Many people think this is good, while others don’t. I’m not here to argue that point, but to stress that sometimes knowing we can’t is just as powerful as knowing we can!

Let me explain. When we realize we fall short, most of the time our response is to try harder and that works within our human assessments and capacities, If we’re given false information that we are doing well when we aren’t, there’s no bar to reach for toward fulfilling our full potential and that is what we want, right? For the most part, sure. But what if no matter what we try and how much effort we apply, we still can’t reach what we are aiming for? What then?

I believe success and strength are most realized when we fail, when we can’t, and we’ve tried everything to no avail. We can choose to give up and resign ourselves to where we are, continue to fight, or learn a more powerful skill:

ACCEPTANCE

*Photo by Padraig O’Flannery on Unsplash*

I believe acceptance is powerful because it’s about finding rest in our weaknesses and failures. It’s about letting go of where we want to be and making peace with where we are. It’s about coming to the realization that I can’t do it all, nor can I be it all and still learning to value myself in that place of lack, doubt or failure. This place is like a mountain we have to climb to get to, because who wants to accept that they are weak, or broken or failing or wrong? None of us.

I’m not suggesting we don’t apply ourselves to excellence and integrity. What I am suggesting is to look at weakness and failure through a different lens; from a different perspective.

It is in this place of failure and weakness that we find the real Jesus. Jesus said to Paul in 2 Cor. 12:9-10: And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (Emphasis added).

In the beatitudes, Jesus said, “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” In many other places in the Bible Jesus tells us it’s when we admit and accept that we are not enough, that is when we find Him.

In Luke 18, Jesus tells the story of a Pharisee and a tax collector went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee prayed and told the Lord all the ways he was succeeding and why he was better than the tax collector. While the tax collector would not even lift his head because of his shame and confessed he was a sinner. The bible says that the tax collector, NOT the Pharisee was justified by God. Why? Because of his humility. The Pharisee took pride in all the things he was doing right, but in the sight of God all his righteousness was as filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6)

Isaiah 57:15
“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.“

I believe we find the real Jesus when we are broken, lacking, and weak because that is where He lives. When Jesus was born, he was born in a barn with animals, not in a castle. He was the son of a simple man and woman who found favor with God not because of their affluence and success, but because of their humility and reverence of God. The real Jesus is not interested in our success, but in our heart of humility.

*Photo by Christina Deravedisian on Unsplash*

Matthew 11:28-29 NLT

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’”

Let Christ be glorified in all!

Crisie

Photo by Scott Rodgerson on Unsplash