New Pressure For A New Year

So what’s it gonna be? What new leaf are you planning to turn over?
Mine is a manuscript. I want to finish another book. I broke up with my agent, so I’m now on my own to find a publisher; afraid of failure or rejection.

What if this book isn’t good enough? What if I can’t find an interested publishing house after pitching the idea?

It’s enough to make me give up. After all. I’m not a New York Times bestselling author. What do I possibly have to offer?

Add in another dozen or so self-defeating comments and I’m ready to call it a day. Ever feel like that? Especially when it comes to New Year’s resolutions.

Our resolutions for walking closer to Christ are not much better. I’m gonna read God’s Word more, take my issues to God more often, share the gospel more, and start a family Bible study. The list goes on.

We set so many high standards for ourselves it’s pretty easy to fail.

It’s funny. I have no problem accepting grace from God when I need it (which is pretty often). But I can’t seem to give it to myself. Why is that?

I think it comes from a belief that people are bigger than they are. That somehow, what they think of me is so important that I forget to care what God thinks of me. In essence, people are big and God is small.

Yikes! Sorry, God.

In reality, if we are his children, He thinks you and I are pretty awesome. He views us through rose-colored glasses.

Does this mean we should stop trying to improve ourselves? Of course not, especially when it comes to walking closer to God.
But accepting who we are and how God made us is important.

God paired you up with your skills and talents because you’d be perfect together. Sure we’re gonna fail from time to time. Sure we could use a few New Year’s resolutions. But I’m learning not to base my proposed improvements on what I think society wants me to be. Rather, I want to be all that God created me to be and desires of me. Flaws and all. There’s a lot of new pressure for a new year. But Philippians 3:12 reminds me, “I don’t mean to say I’m perfect. I haven’t learned all I should even yet. But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be. ” (Living Bible)
How about you? What areas do you struggle with when it comes to other’s opinions of you? How do you navigate through that? Share with us in the comments.