Should I Stop Striving?

“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6

I currently attend Liberty University through an online program in hopes of obtaining my degree in Biblical Studies and Theology. I recently completed a creative writing class that I thoroughly loved. It opened me up to new writing genres that I hadn't yet tried before, and I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it more than most college students enjoy their classes. (It's true what they say about adult learners. We're annoyingly studious). There was only one problem. I'm already a writer, so I assumed this class would be easy for me, and while the course itself wasn't overly difficult, it challenged me in an entirely different way. I put every ounce of energy I had into each assignment, and though I came close with some, it seemed my professor refused to give me a perfect score.

At first, I was baffled by this, so I tried harder and harder with each assignment. I specifically remember numerous occasions, sitting in front of my computer with a smug grin on my face after writing, rewriting, and editing my heart out, thinking-She cannot possibly find anything wrong with this one. But the entire sub-term went on, and I never once received a perfect score. Ouch, says the writer!

But eventually, I noticed something. With each assignment, her critiques challenged me to improve, and I began to appreciate her more and more as time went on. Though it wasn't the perfect A+ this middle-aged overachiever was hoping for; I did finish the course with an A.

As part of our final, our assignment was to fill out a self-evaluation form explaining how the class had helped us improve. I was honest and explained that I had tried to achieve all perfect scores with no success; however, I wrote that I was grateful for this because it challenged me to keep improving, and I am now more driven to become a better writer. Her feedback was short and sweet, but it will stay with me forever. She said, "So glad you noted that. There is nowhere to go from perfect." I let those words settle in my heart for a moment and realized that they don't only pertain to the world of writing.

Isn't our journey with the Lord so very similar?

Remember the words Paul said, "Not that I have already obtained this, or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me His own. (Philippians 3:12) ESV.

Paul was essentially saying that he hasn't reached full maturity in Christ, but he continues to press forward toward that goal because of what Christ did for him. One day, those who call Jesus their Savior will be perfected in faith, but if you have air in your lungs, today is not that day, my friend. We are still on this journey pressing forward.

Do you ever wonder why you haven't achieved perfection in your faith? It's so easy to look at other Christians and think, Why can't I get it together the way they have it together? Years ago, I remembered thinking, One day, I won't be tempted to sin anymore. One day, I will fully trust God with all my son's health issues. One day, I'll stop searching for approval from others. One day, I won't struggle with God anymore. I was right to some degree because, once in a while, I have days where I don't struggle with these things. I've grown and become more mature in my faith. But I was also incredibly wrong because it was never intended that I become perfect while here on Earth. And I won't be perfected until the day He takes me to Heaven.

Hebrews 10:14 says, "For, by a single offering, He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."

This scripture means that Jesus took our place and made our salvation possible, but we are still being sanctified until we depart from this life. We strive to get closer to that perfection and to be obedient to His calling for our lives, but we do that with the assurance of knowing we will never get it entirely right while we’re here. Still, each challenge we face, and each moment we stumble, is an opportunity to draw nearer to Him and to our goal. In his Bible commentary, Tony Evans calls this experience "holy discontent." We aren't satisfied with where we are in Christ but aren't meant to be. If there is ever a moment where we start to think, I am right where God wants me now, and all the work is done, he'll prove us wrong before we can blink.

When I first began trying to walk closer with Jesus, I got so discouraged with myself. I strived and strived, but I still struggled. I was still tempted. I still lacked trust. And when I did, I found myself wanting to give up completely. I thought, Maybe I'm just not cut out for this whole Christian thing after all. Slowly but surely, though, God taught me to keep pressing on regardless, and eventually, I noticed that I was building a deeper and much more intimate connection with Him through each season of struggle. This is the process of sanctification, and he calls us to keep marching right through it. I still struggle today. Sometimes, I struggle to trust God with my son's health. Almost daily, I'm tempted by sin. My Christianity doesn't change that. But His Holy Spirit never leaves me. He may have to pick me off and dust me off sometimes, but He's never going anywhere.

 James 1:2 says, "Consider it a great joy my brothers and sisters whenever you experience various trials because the testing of your faith produces endurance and let endurance have its full effect so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."

Friend, I don't know what challenges you may face today or how discouraged your heart may feel but let me encourage you. Stumbling blocks can make sturdy stepping stones when we use them to guide us closer to our Savior. If you have found yourself drifting from His path, you can get right back on it. So, seek Him in prayer. Hold on to His faithful promises. Embrace the journey, and keep pressing forward until He has completed His work in you.