UN/Broken - Day 6
THE MYTHS OF FAITH & MENTAL HEALTH Myth #6 - Perfection is possible
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Philippians 1:6 NLT
On the wall in my office hangs a picture of Crazy Horse Monument in South Dakota. Crazy Horse was a Native American leader, and the sculpture was commissioned to celebrate the spirit of the Native American warrior and his people.
I first saw Crazy Horse on a trip with my family, which profoundly impacted me. It’s a sculpture that has been in the works since 1948, and when finished, it will be the world’s largest sculpture standing at just under 600 feet, three times the size of the Statue of Liberty. They’ve been working on the sculpture for 75 years, and so far, the face of Crazy Horse is finished, and they’re working hard on his arm pointing off into the distance as he rides atop his horse. They probably have another 20-30 years to go before it’s completed.
Under the picture in my office is the quote from the apostle Paul in Philippians 1:6. Like the artists working on Crazy Horse, God is working on each of us, restoring His image. On one hand, when we are in Christ, we are indeed “new creations” (2 Corinthians 5: 17), and as such we are “God’s masterpiece…created anew in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2: 10). But we are also works in progress. That work won’t be completed until “it is finally finished on the day Christ Jesus returns.”
What does this mean for our mental health journey? It means we owe ourselves some grace for the journey, and we owe others the same courtesy. God is at work in our lives, and at times, it is a painstakingly slow process. Even Paul said, “I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t.” (Romans 7:19)
The journey toward good mental health can often feel like two steps forward and three steps back, but in my experience, it’s not a linear path. There are good days, bad days, awful days. But the best way to approach it is one breath at a time, one step at a time. In your worst moments, it can feel like seeking good mental health is all-consuming, but after a time, and when you put in the work, you can wake up one day and realize that your mental health
struggles no longer control or dominate your every waking moment.
Rest assured, God is at work when you put your life into His hands. Remember, He is the potter; you are the clay. (Isaiah 29:16) Let Him do His work. Perfection on this side of heaven means God is taking our brokenness and putting us back together, piece by piece, with the healing power of the blood of Jesus Christ. When Jesus comes, we will be fully restored in the twinkling of an eye (I Corinthians 15:52). Until then, one breath, one step, at a time trusting in Jesus all along the way.
JOURNAL:
Philippians 1:6 NLT
On the wall in my office hangs a picture of Crazy Horse Monument in South Dakota. Crazy Horse was a Native American leader, and the sculpture was commissioned to celebrate the spirit of the Native American warrior and his people.
I first saw Crazy Horse on a trip with my family, which profoundly impacted me. It’s a sculpture that has been in the works since 1948, and when finished, it will be the world’s largest sculpture standing at just under 600 feet, three times the size of the Statue of Liberty. They’ve been working on the sculpture for 75 years, and so far, the face of Crazy Horse is finished, and they’re working hard on his arm pointing off into the distance as he rides atop his horse. They probably have another 20-30 years to go before it’s completed.
Under the picture in my office is the quote from the apostle Paul in Philippians 1:6. Like the artists working on Crazy Horse, God is working on each of us, restoring His image. On one hand, when we are in Christ, we are indeed “new creations” (2 Corinthians 5: 17), and as such we are “God’s masterpiece…created anew in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2: 10). But we are also works in progress. That work won’t be completed until “it is finally finished on the day Christ Jesus returns.”
What does this mean for our mental health journey? It means we owe ourselves some grace for the journey, and we owe others the same courtesy. God is at work in our lives, and at times, it is a painstakingly slow process. Even Paul said, “I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t.” (Romans 7:19)
The journey toward good mental health can often feel like two steps forward and three steps back, but in my experience, it’s not a linear path. There are good days, bad days, awful days. But the best way to approach it is one breath at a time, one step at a time. In your worst moments, it can feel like seeking good mental health is all-consuming, but after a time, and when you put in the work, you can wake up one day and realize that your mental health
struggles no longer control or dominate your every waking moment.
Rest assured, God is at work when you put your life into His hands. Remember, He is the potter; you are the clay. (Isaiah 29:16) Let Him do His work. Perfection on this side of heaven means God is taking our brokenness and putting us back together, piece by piece, with the healing power of the blood of Jesus Christ. When Jesus comes, we will be fully restored in the twinkling of an eye (I Corinthians 15:52). Until then, one breath, one step, at a time trusting in Jesus all along the way.
JOURNAL:
- Are there any areas in your life where you struggle with perfection?
- What fears do you have if others were to find out you aren’t perfect or that you messed up
- As you look over your life for the last ten years, what areas have you seen growth and improvement (God at work)?
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