I have a confession to make. I don’t feel like a grown up. I never have. I don’t feel like I have my life together or like I’m accomplishing what I thought I would at this stage. Even when it comes to everyday life, it’s difficult to let go of our ideas of what Lea would call “Pinterest-perfect”… For me, that means an awesome backyard where my unfinished projects aren’t living on the back porch. For Lea, it means finally hanging up artwork and arranging throw pillows. For you it may mean something else that seems a small step away. I think everyone has that feeling of being not-quite-done. When Lea and I were younger, we thought things would be ready at the next milestone… when we married, when we graduated college, when we finally moved “away,” when we bought our own home, when we had a child, when that child started school. The milestones never end, do they?! There’s always that next step needed to make it perfect… there’s always that next achievement needed to feel grown up.
There is great value in striving to mature – especially in your walk with Christ. We have every reason “to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,” as Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:15. There does seem to be a difference in continuing to expect growth in our maturity, insight, and wisdom in our lives and always feeling inadequate in our current situation. We can “press on” (Philippians 3:14) because of our hope, instead of fear or insecurity.
After all, when it comes to our hope of salvation, Christ said, “it is finished.” Not, “I’m working on it,” or “we’re halfway there.” Even in the midst of our imperfections and flaws, God loves us and considers us a part of his family. As we continue to grow, we do that because of His love and grace, not to “earn” that love and grace. And it’s often most visible in the ways we are trying to serve.
Maybe for you it is hospitality, maybe it’s feeling like you are finally a “grown-up” with ideas of value and service to offer (and putting those ideas into motion), maybe it’s deepening your spiritual life or even becoming a Christian and dedicating your life to Christ for the very first time. Regardless of where you are in life or how imperfect life might seem to you, it’s ok to open up. It is ok to be authentic. It is ok to share your life and yourself just like you are right now! No one has “arrived” in life. No one has it all worked out. Listen to how Paul put it: “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.” (Philippians 3:13-15)
As we continue to press on, let us walk together in faith knowing that God isn’t finished with any of us yet, and that’s ok. Even if that means the neighbors can see our unfinished projects!
James D. Mayo 