If we’d met fifteen years ago, you would’ve seen a bubbly, hardworking servant of God who pumped your hand and smiled into your eyes. "Nice to meet ya'. I'm Janna Wright!" Then off I'd rush to do more work for God (with a wink and "No rest for the weary!” as I left).
But underneath my smiling, “I’m fine” mask was a different story.
Underneath was a girl who was growing weary, used up, and disillusioned. You see, after accepting Jesus as Savior as a kid, I’d learned all the "right ways" to be a good Christian – and I’d done them – in every role, as perfectly as I could, till I knew the mantra by heart: If you DO good, you ARE good.
And so my worth and identity became firmly rooted in my “performance." Continue Reading
It didn't take many years in full-time ministry for me to slam into a harsh reality -- No one can perform perfectly long enough to ever be "good enough." My tidy Performance Driven Life came crashing down around me and my fragile identity shattered into a million pieces. Alone, afraid, guilty . . . I heard God gently whisper I never intended life to work this way, with so much working and striving to please Me. In that terrifying moment, all I could do with the jagged pieces of life was hold them up and beg Him for a better way.
And lovingly, He began to show me the truth of His grace . . . how at the moment of salvation an adventure begins, a grace adventure of becoming on the outside, who we already are on the inside -- a brand, new creation! How He intends BEING to come before doing, which lets us enjoy instead of fear Him, embrace freedom instead of rules, believe who He says we are instead of trying to prove our worth, be authentic instead of wearing masks, dance through life instead of marching to expectations, and exchange old guilt and obligation for His unforced rhythms of grace. Life began all over again for me the day I came face to face with the truth of God's grace.
Perhaps you've been there too . . . mired in the muck of "do-more" for God? Trying to be enough? Shackled with too many roles and responsibilities? Secretly weary and wearing a fake "I'm fine" face? Aching for more freedom and joy in your Christianity?
More than anything God longs for His beloved daughters to nestle close to His heart and experience the truth of His grace...
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matt. 11:28-30 MSG)
So much love and grace to you,
P.S. You'll find the rest of my God-story in the book, Grace Changes Everything.
