I was born an Achiever, someone who needs outside approval that can only come from an inside source, my Jesus. Sadly, I believed that my worth is found in what I do, not in whose I am. You probably remember this translated itself into my crazy goal of losing baby weight with my second born.
My Achiever’s need to be told I was perfect, or at least good enough, was driving me to distraction. I needed someone to tell me that I was good enough to rest, that the striving could cease, and that the work had been finished. And who would tell me this? Jesus.
Here are the three things that Jesus can do for Achievers:
1. Jesus gives rest. He makes me rest in green pastures because I am one of His sheep. Sheep need rest, and they aren’t smart enough to figure out when and where to do it on their own. Achievers need rest because we push and bully ourselves. In our eyes, we’re never good enough, but David tells us in Psalm 23 that God will restore our souls. He doesn’t tell us about restoration because our souls are intact but because they’re shattered, hurt and broken.
Take a moment to ask yourself: from what hurt does my soul need restoring?
2. Jesus tells me to stop the striving. Jesus tells me the striving can cease. In John 6:28–29, He’s answering questions from a crowd who had just eaten miracle bread because they wanted to know what God wanted them to do… keep in mind these people are still living in the age of 100% animal sacrifice and 0% Holy Spirit. His answer was simple: believe. The work wasn’t to start a church program, volunteer at school, or bring dinner to every new mother. The work is to believe.
But Jill, there is still work to do. There’s the Great Commission of going, teaching, and baptizing, and there are still widows and orphans who need care. Yes, God has work for us to do, but it’s work that He does through us. Answering God’s calling for your life is far different from the work you bring on yourself out of obligation and guilt.
My Achieving lifestyle has to do with me setting the pace, the goal, the rules, and the score for self-glorification. God’s work is about His glory, my good and growth. His will, my joy. His kingdom, my completeness. The striving can stop, and the overflowing can begin.
Now ask yourself: what striving activity do I need to stop?
3. Jesus completes the work. He tells me the work has been finished. Jesus died on the cross to carry all the sin, the shame, and the not-good-enough talk. Jesus took it all on Himself, and He tells me it’s over.
Why do I keep dredging it all back up? Death has no sting. Hell has no victory. Jesus lived the life I couldn’t and died the death I deserve, so why do I act like I still need to merit the favor of eternal life in heaven and abundant life on earth? Why do I live like His victory isn’t true and real for me?
For me, there are two reasons:
1. I’m prideful. I think that free gifts are for suckers, and I’m here to earn my spot. My pride also tells me that I achieved that I deserve the free gift of salvation.
2. I simultaneously believe that I’m not worthy to accept such a lavish, unmerited gift, and that I’m taking someone else’s place on the team… someone with more beauty and talent and brains.
The fact that I can simultaneously believe that I’m not enough and that I’m too much shows how Satan can mess with us.
One final question: what in your life do you need to recognize as finished, paid for, and covered?
Regardless of how I feel, His words and work are true. Jesus told me to rest, so I do it. And when I rest, He begins His healing work. God pre-planned my good works, so I do those things in His strength, and that helps me to quit striving toward my own goals and agenda. And finally, Jesus already crossed the finish line that I so desperately seek. The work is finished.
All three of these things are inextricably linked: