Stop Trying, Start Being

Devotional 
Have you ever watched a child try to force themselves to fall asleep? The harder they try, the more awake they become. Sometimes the answer isn't more effort - it's learning to rest and let something natural happen. This is a beautiful picture of the Christian life. So many believers exhaust themselves trying to be righteous, trying to be more loving, trying to be better Christians. But this approach misses the point entirely. We don't achieve righteousness through effort; we receive it through faith. The Christian life isn't about trying harder - it's about believing and receiving. When we truly understand that Christ lives in us, we can stop striving and start resting in His life flowing through us. It's not about self-improvement or behavior modification; it's about letting Christ express Himself through our surrender. This doesn't mean we become passive or lazy. Instead, we learn to operate from a place of rest rather than striving. We act from our identity as beloved children of God rather than trying to earn that identity through performance. When we stop trying to be and simply rest in who we already are in Christ, something beautiful happens. His life begins to flow through us naturally. Love, joy, peace, and all the other fruits of the Spirit aren't things we manufacture through willpower - they're the natural result of Christ living His life through us. This is incredibly freeing for anyone who has been worn out by religious effort and performance.

Bible Verse
'I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.' - Galatians 2:20

Reflection Question
What areas of your Christian life have become about 'trying harder' rather than resting in Christ's life within you?

Quote
We need to stop trying to be and just be. It's believing then receiving, not doing, hoping that it will just come.

Prayer
Jesus, I'm tired of trying to be a good Christian through my own effort. Help me to rest in Your life within me and let You express Yourself through my surrender. Teach me to be rather than try to be.