The other day the Lord pressed the comparison and expectation we as humans put on ourselves deep into my heart. I began to pray and seek out the Lords wisdom in this fact and I was led to John 7. In John 7 Jesus’s brothers wanted him to go back to Judea so that everyone could see all the things he could do and so that his glory could be shown. They were honestly testing him and pushing his buttons in my opinion. I sensed a little bit of sibling rivalry. Jesus decides it is best to not go to Judea at that time and there was a time coming that was in better suit. He wasn’t going to go there just because he wanted to live up to an expectation, he wanted to go when it was right for the kingdom and the purpose laid out for him.
In our day in age we have a hard time understanding and seeing our strengths and accomplishments. So much of us deep down feel like we are a fraud and we feel we can’t perform to what people expect of us. Even when people compliment us, we feel stupid because if they ever saw how we TRULY were they would kick us to the curb.
Ouch.
It happens to the best and worst of us. It happens to all of us. It is the fear to be found out that we are less than others thought we were. It is fear that keeps you in an constant performance and perfectionist mode. It is the fear that keeps you overcompensating for what you DONT actually lack.
We feel pressure under an expectation and we want to then prove it. But why? Why do we do this? Why are we wired this way?
Anytime you have unbelief in your heart it will get you to try to perform to prove something you don’t truly believe.
yuck.
What does this unbelief stem from?
Fear and insecurity. We fail to truly identify where our identity and worth actually truly comes from. We live to get affirmation from man before we live to bring glory to the Lord. We fail to see that our purpose stems from knowing we are full through Jesus Christ and we don’t have to create a standard that Jesus didn’t create for us to live up too.
When you “do it to prove it” it takes the joy out of it. Jesus didn’t mind performing miracles, he just wasn’t going to do it for the wrong reasons or motives. That’s still true today. That’s a great model for us as followers of the Lord.
Don’t do things like others, they are built differently than you. Don’t carry a burden you weren’t built for because of comparison you put on yourself because of someone with a different calling. We are so often walking around hurting because we put ourselves in a position we were not built to be in.
Who are your trying to prove? Whoever you are trying to prove isn’t paying attention because they are trying to prove it to someone else who isn’t paying attention. The cycle then continues.
As we live our lives to prove and live up to the unnecessary pressure to prove what we are worth, our purpose is dying in the place of our insecurities.
What is God calling you to? Calling you into? What have you been neglecting in the process?
We need to press into what purpose Jesus has placed on US. What purpose have YOU been entrusted with? Find that. Press into that. Live out of that. Stemming from the Lord completely. Seek for the joy.
The definition of purpose is “the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists”.
That is beautiful! We were all created to be different and be different pieces!!
Seek the Lord and ask him what your piece is. Truly ask him. Then run passionately away from comparison and expectation, and towards your true purpose and calling.
Live out of purpose, not popularity.
Live out of purpose, not praises of men.
Don’t let living up to arbitrary standards kill your contentment and joy and ministry.
Even Jesus couldn’t please everyone. He was sinless and spotless and yet we expect that we can. Release that and run towards YOUR purpose.
It is our season to be obedient to what the Lord is calling us into. It’s all we have to do. There is so much freedom in that. All we have to do is be obedient in this season of our lives.
Sometimes the pressure we feel to be special does not come from God, it comes from culture to be so beautiful and set apart and different, but you already are. You are already set apart. You don’t need to show them, you already are. When you live out of that place you live for purpose not proof.
The Lord has been speaking these truths over me for years now and I feel I finally have been able to see the ways the Lord has been pressing this into me now. The Lord is calling us into FREEDOM and joy. We are all running a race that is beautifully made for us and for Gods glory even more. We are set apart and created for right now. We are unique and beautiful for his name. We are all given purpose and our purpose isn’t on a scale, it’s all used and all mighty for the kingdom. There is so much JOY in this! So much life! So much celebration in the fact that I don’t have to look to my left and my right to know I am walking correctly before the Lord. The Lord is my guide! The Lord is my shepherd. I get to be confident before him and I say Yes and trust his mighty works.
