This world tells us maturity means you can do it on your own. We tend to adopt that as part of our theology, thinking our willpower and grit are the keys to overcoming our struggles and even sin. In God’s kingdom, though, true maturity is deep dependence on Him. It comes when we grasp the reality that we can do nothing apart from Him but can do all things through Him who strengthens us (John 15:5, Phil. 4:13).
Though I accepted Jesus as my savior as a young child, God is bringing me new life in this season by teaching me to depend fully on Him. I am learning I do not have to be in the perfect mindset to come into His presence. I can bring those thoughts that accuse me with how I “should” feel and think and acknowledge my actual feelings and thoughts before Him.
I am learning to ignore the demanding voice of perfectionism and come to Him first rather than troubleshoot solutions first and stress out over the “right” way to handle my problems. I am learning to commit my fears about my performance and the future into His hands rather than stay paralyzed by them. I can still come to Jesus just as I am in the moment, and He still loves and receives me!
Jesus’s finished work made a way for us to run to Him even in confusion, struggles, and trials, to throw off the weight of those things, cling to Him, and find forgiveness and peace. I am reassured and strengthened knowing that when we are weak, we are strong because the One who loves and intercedes for us is with us through it all and is working all things together for our good and His glory.