Add And Subtract Like Jesus

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

Ever have one of those days where you feel like a total failure? Maybe you always seem to be a step or two behind, desperately trying to get your footing, only to stumble again and again? When I have days like these, tears build up inside me and no amount of effort can keep them from overflowing. Like a bathtub filled to the brim, they eventually splash to the floor, and I’m left cleaning up a slippery mess.

Sometimes our most dangerous stumbling blocks are our own expectations. When seasons of life change, bringing new responsibilities and roles, we are often unwilling to let go of what was important in the past to make room for what we’re called to today.

For most of my life, I’ve had the bad habit of adding to my schedule without being willing to subtract something to make room for the new responsibility. Eventually, the math doesn’t add up and I am overcommitted and overtired. I’ve overlooked what Jesus has called me to do in my current season.

Maybe you’ve been there too—or maybe you’re there right now. Your schedule is overflowing, and every minute there’s something that needs to be tended to, someone who needs you, somewhere you need to be. You know this pace is unsustainable, but you don’t know how to press pause, hit the reset button, and receive the rest Jesus offers.

A life of abundance is not achieved by doing more, accomplishing more, or getting more done. A life of abundance is found when we abide in Christ, receiving all we need for life and godliness in him (see John 15:5).

Flourishing happens when Christ increases in us while our sinful desires decrease. Does this mean we cease to be? In a sense, yes. And in another sense, no. As the love and hope of Christ increase in us, our self-centeredness and pride decrease. At the same time, his character shapes and sharpens ours, so our lives produce gospel fruit (see Galatians 5:22-23).

When you reach the end of your rope, consider that feeling of desperation a gift of grace from God. He sees and collects the tears that spill from our weary eyes (see Psalm 56:8). He does not call us to strive to achieve more through our own efforts, to keep up with those around us, or to get ahead. He calls us to sit at his feet, soak in his Word, release our unrealistic expectations, and find in Jesus the grace and guidance we desperately need (see Luke 10:38-42).

The Christian life is a paradox. In him, we are broken yet healed, empty yet filled.

If the path to dying to self and living for Christ requires that we fail and feel the repercussions of unrealistic expectations, let it be. If it requires us to surpass our limits so we can return to a place of total surrender to Jesus, let it be.

It is worth it to fail in the world’s eyes so we can live fully and freely in Jesus.

This is the kind of gospel math we read about in John 3:30: he must increase, we must decrease.

Word before World More Jesus + less me = life abundantly

Grow in Grace Write down one thing that needs to be subtracted from your life right now. Now write down one thing that needs to be added in order to seek Jesus and live like him. Ask God to help you discern what commitments are part of the work he has called you to in your current season of life.