Page 15 - Called to Be Holy

At some point in life, we run into this realization: “why do I still suffer from sin?”
It seems like every time we try to live as “holy people,” we tend to mess up
even more or go back to the old ways. So, we try harder. All of our lives, we are
told that if you work harder at something difficult, you will eventually overcome
it. This is not how holiness works. It is not about working harder or doing more.
If it were, then there would be a lot more holy people in the world.

It is not about effort. It is about trust.
Say there was a list with all of your faults and let's say that list has over a thou-
sand items. Things that you don’t like to do, things that are contrary to what
God wants, or even things you refuse to do for God, etc. Now, say that you fall
in love with God, and he promises to remove all sin from you as you get to love
him more. Now, imagine that you look at this list and you want to get rid of item
#345. You hate #345 because every time you face it you succumb to it, you can’t
help yourself. In your mind, this must be the most crucial thing to be removed,
but you have to remember that you are not in control of making you Holy, God
is.

In His wisdom, with all the love and care of a great doctor, God may be dealing
with something much worse on the list. Something that may be the very root of
why you struggle with that one sin. This is where trust comes in; Do you trust
God, to do what he has to do to make you holy or not?

You cannot be the surgeon and the patient at the same time.

God wants you to get rid of the burden of effort and enjoy the freedom found
in trying softer. That does not mean that you coast in life since “he’ll take care
of it”! No! Trying Softer means that you first have an honest conversation with
God and let Him direct the steps you need to take while He deals with “the list.”
Instead of you dictating what you want God to deal with, you let God continue
the work that makes you Holy and trust the promise that one day, you will be.

Trying softer does not mean it will be easy! It is the most robust discipline God
imparts on us because it is not in our nature to give up control, but if you do,
you’ll find that daily you are growing in holiness without you become exhaust-
ed. Let God make you Holy all you have to do is love Him.