Where do you find your worth? In what you do? Where you live? Or who you know- here on earth? That is not where I find mine.
Late 2024 I picked up on a ripple of buzz. You’ve heard of the Fruits of the Spirit? In Galatians 5:22-23 is where Paul writes about the goodness of life. Earlier in the chapter he lists out the evils and sins of life. Paul is strongly encouraging the Christians in Galatia to “Walk in the Spirit” so as not to wallow in the lust of the flesh.
Paul says to get your heart right with God and you will see freedom from your fleshly desires. Then Paul reminds them that he told them before that if they choose to walk in sin they will not inherit the Kingdom of God. And then, to be extra sure that Galatia got his message, Paul list the Fruits of the Spirit. Verse 22 & 23:
But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24:And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with [it’s] affections and lusts
25: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26: Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
I always read this passage as through my own works I could produce joy, peace, and love, and be longsuffering and meek.
Wait a minute. If I believe the salvation from Jesus Christ is a free gift, I can offer nothing worthy of it. I cannot work for the approval of salvation. Then how do I work for the fruits of the Spirit?
This is where the ripple comes in. I heard the suggestion that the fruits of the Spirit are not gained by our devotion, our piousness’, our efforts or strivings. BUT the fruits of the Spirit are developed by the Spirit as we turn our walk to be walking closer with Jesus.
Paul says in verse 18: But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.
That’s it! Right there. When Jesus died on the cross He cancelled the law. Grace was born. Forgiveness was come. New Life was offered. And that is the way we are to walk, even today. Walk with grace and forgiveness in this new life.
And so, I believe, our worth isn’t to be found in our profession. Our worth is found in how we do what ever it is we do. When we wrap our heads around the goodness of God. When we accept that life is completely dependent on Him. Just as salvation is completely dependent on the blood of Jesus Christ. Then we can begin to loosen our grip, and let God work through us to do his good work.
What can you do this week to walk closer to Jesus?
(This will be a work in progress. Check back to see more. If you don’t see your #1 reason, let me know in the comments below. Working together there’s no telling how far we will go.)
1. You can’t find the off switch for your daily struggles. It’s effecting your sleep and stealing your joy.
You need Jesus. He is big enough to shoulder all your burdens. He says in His Word. “My yoke is easy, My burden is light” – Matthew 11:30 -. In Matthew 11:29 Jesus invites you and me to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him…and promises that we will find rest in our souls in Jesus!
Come to Me, all those laboring and being burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 from Green’s Literal Translation
Vocabulary time. Yoke – traditionally it is a heavy piece of equipment used to hold 2 oxen, or mules together, so as to encourage teamwork. Ideally, the ox would be matched up so neither pulled harder than the other, or one was more of a leader, the second more of a follower. The goal was a smooth pull, not a tug-of-war. Yoke – biblically it shows a joining up of two separate groups of people to work as one. It wasn’t always an equal match, it was often one country (usually the children of Isreal) being put into servanthood for another foreign, other god worshiping, country. With Jesus the yoke is a picture of Him working with us as we help Him to get the work completed.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from
Me, because I am meek and lowly in
heart and you will find rest to your souls.
Matthew 11:29 from Green’s Literal Translation
2. You feel like you’re not enough.
Well, you’re right. None of us is enough. If we were enough, it would be a cold, stark world with little love. God created us to need one another, to need Him. Because when we come to the cross, confess our sins, open our hearts door to Jesus – then Jesus makes us enough!! It’s that wonderful?! Once we have Jesus on board, He will give us comfort and strengthen us to meet the day head on. Jesus goes before us arranging all the interactions in our day. Jesus protects us from every side.
This doesn’t mean you will have no problems anymore. Problems are part of life on earth. It means Jesus will be right there with you in the midst of your problem. When you become overwhelmed you say, “Jesus help me” and He’s there, giving the assistance that will best help you. At the end of the day, you can think back over the events, and you will begin to see where and how the Lord helped you through your day.
3. Life is hard and sometimes cruel. You begin every day with trepidations. You really just want to crawl into a cave and never come out.
You really need Jesus. Fresh mercy every morning, along with the truth that we can’t outrun His love. His love fuels our love and when we walk in love, the whole world begins to look brighter. Jesus is there for us. Every day, every trial, every scary moment. 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us that His grace is sufficient. He has enough grace to make up for where we are short. First, accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. Second, begin each day by putting it in His hands. He is faithful, He will meet you where you are! He will make up the difference where you are lacking.
And He said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness”. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Paul speaking in 2 Corinthians 12:9, King James Version
4. You need Jesus, not a word of the year!
What is this word of the year? It’s really bugged me for a year or two. At first I couldn’t figure out what they were talking about. Then I did some reading up on it, looked into it, ya know, is this for me? So, what did I learn? It’s a lot of work trying to figure out where you are, what you’re feeling, what’s your weakness? I mean, who really wants to do all that work? And what do you get in the end? A word? what? really! Just a word. And this word is supposed to zoom my mind back into focus. I call this wishful thinking. Do you want something substantial to focus on? Try Jesus! Focus on Him, that is really worth your time. And I promise you will feel uplifted, encouraged, even energized when you focus on Jesus.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, He according to His great mercy having regenerated us to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, having been kept in Heaven for you – the ones in the power of God being guarded through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time;
1 Peter 1:3-5 – Green’s Literal Translation
Focus on Jesus. That is worth your time. You are building a relationship with the One True God of all. This most vital relationship is all you need to stay the course and keep your focus.
#5 You have ADHD? You NEED Jesus!
Okay, getting real here. This is the nitty gritty of my life, in May it will be 38 years of living with ADHD. I used to joke with my children, that ADHD is contagious – but it’s no joke! It’s true! The habits of the people we live with rub off on us. Especially if you love the other person. So, I am speaking from experience here, you NEED Jesus! Jesus is the only one who accepts us, uglies and all. Jesus is the only one who laughs with us, not at us. Jesus is the one who CAN keep up with All. The. Things. we forget. Jesus invites us to throw it all on Him. He says, give it to me! I will carry you! I will be the giver of all the good things. All we have to do is receive, say thank you, I love you, and give Jesus a big smile. This is serious. Think about it. Do you want to travel alone through live with your ADHD burden? Or would you like company, that helps, and holds, and says, I got this! Personally, I am so glad I walk with Jesus. He’s got my life!
#6 You have no purpose.
Jesus will give you purpose! I taught my children this, all Jesus wants from us is to say thank you, walk with me, You’re the best! All Jesus wants from us is a relationship. Know Me, He says, I am your God.
Psalm 46:10 – King James Version
Be still and know that I am God!
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.
So, in all your doing, and striving, and trying this year; stop, be still and sense God with You. Build a relationship with Jesus. Find a Bible and read the book of John first. Go find the app, Quick Bible, download it, read John. Reading the Bible is how we build a relationship with Jesus. His Word helps us to understand who He is. You will just be starting on this journey of knowing Jesus when you wake up realizing you have a purpose!
#7 Life isn’t working
If you are at the spot where no matter how hard you try, nothing seems to help, you need Jesus. Jesus accepts our pitiful efforts to fix our lives and makes life better. He takes our weakness and throws his strength into it, and we have victory! Victory in Jesus! Maybe you know Jesus. Maybe you’ve been ignoring Him? Come back! Jesus says that all of heaven rejoices when one lost sheep is returned to the fold. Come back and listen to heaven rejoice. Jesus is a burden lifter. He opens doors and brings good into our lives. I am not saying He will bring ease & laziness into your life. You will still need to work, but you will want to work, you will see a purpose to your work.
O victory in Jesus, My Savior, forever. He sought me and bought me With His redeeming blood. He loved me ere I knew Him And all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory, Beneath the cleansing flood.
Comparison, Am I Normal? is bad, it’s a dirty word. Thinking in the vein of – Am I normal – is a trap that leads to depression. If you have ADHD that path to depression is incredibly short. It’s not really a path, more like stepping through a doorway and you’re there — Depressed! In that light we can call comparison the door. This door should remain closed. It hides a very ugly room.
What’s so ugly about the comparison to normal? Being normal has a nasty habit of always putting you and your loved ones in an unfavorable light. How would you feel if the family photographer was always cutting your head out of the pictures they took. You would constantly see your body as it is without the beauty of your smile or the light in your eyes. That’s just what thinking “am I normal” does! You are cutting all the beauty & light out of the picture, leaving only starkness.
When our oldest children had reached 5th & 7th grade, they began coming home with talk of Normal. They were coming to the realization that with ADHD they were different. My response was – let me give it to you straight – “Comparison is not your friend. It will kick you when you’re down. It will turn its back on you when you need a hand getting up. Comparison is Satan’s agent. It is hollow, cold, and cloaked in darkness. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it is the goodness of God. It is not. It will pull the rug out from under you and laugh out loud when your bum hits the floor. Then came my motto: You will NEVER come out on top when you grapple with comparing yourself to others.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Comparison, or seeking to be normal, is a cruel taskmaster, keeping you unsettled down to your soul. It will keep you awake when you should be sleeping, distract you from what you should be doing. It likes to steal all the joy out of your days. It can even immobilize a person by creating great fear in their soul, so much so that they refuse to go out. Comparison is crippling. It gives no relief; it hangs on with a death grip. You want to shake it off. You may even think you have shaken it off, but then you turn a corner and there it is again. Have you had enough? Are you ready for fresh air and sunshine in your days? I can help you find it.
Jesus is who you need. Jesus accepts you just as you are. Where you are, secrets and all. Jesus has a love for each one of us so vast we can’t comprehend how deep it is. Jesus has enough love for the whole world. Every single person on earth can find more than enough love in Jesus. Once you meet Him it will be much easier to let go of comparison. You will soon be leaning into the great big bear hug of Jesus. He washes away all our grief, replacing it with joy & peace. He tells us that we are enough for Him. We can relax in that knowledge. Jesus loves us just as we are. If we are lacking anything He will provide it.
