“I DO IT!”

Toddlers love declaring their newfound independence as they navigate the world. It’s a refrain heard countless times in households of young children everywhere, a small glimpse into the journey of self-discovery we all embark upon.

I’ll admit, I’ve caught myself echoing that sentiment more times than I can count – as an adult navigating the twists and turns of life. Something is appealing about the idea of doing things on our terms and proving our capabilities to the world.

But if I’m honest, my insistence on self-reliance has led me astray more than once.

I vividly recall a moment of reckoning with my stubborn insistence on doing it myself amidst the whirlwind of giving birth. Exhausted yet exhilarated, I found myself determined to handle anything motherhood threw my way.

After 24 hours of labor, I gazed in awe at the fresh new life I held in my arms. The nurses gently tapped me on my shoulder, telling me it was time to move from the delivery room to my private room. I scoffed at the wheelchair brought in by the nurses, happy to prove that I was strong enough to walk on my own.

But as I stood on trembling legs, reality came crashing down.

I didn’t shout, “I DO IT!” like my toddler son with the “New Big Brother” t-shirt at home did. But my actions said the same thing when I resolved to prove that I was capable and in control.

My knees buckled beneath me.

I couldn’t do it.

I needed someone to catch me. To offer support when my strength faltered.

That newborn is turning eleven soon. And as the years go by, I’m slowly embracing the profound (and sometimes painful) beauty of surrender — recognizing that true strength lies not in my own wobbly or wonderful abilities but in the unwavering promise that God will work within me and around me.

It’s a lesson that echoes throughout the pages of Scripture. Take the story of Abraham — a man whose faith defied logic and reason and who chose to hope against hope in the face of impossibility.

Romans 4:7-18 tells us that Abraham’s hope wasn’t rooted in his accomplishments but in God’s promise. Abraham’s example challenges us to relinquish our stubborn self-reliance and embrace the transformative power of divine grace.

It’s a perspective that challenges our stubborn self-reliance, inviting us to shift our focus from our strength (or lack thereof) and embrace the transformative power of God’s grace. 

What if we dared to replace our insistence on self-sufficiency with stubborn hope? 

What if we opened ourselves up to the infinite possibilities that lie in store when we place our hope outside of ourselves?

When we stop hinging our worth based on what we can (or can’t) do and instead place our hope in who God is, we might just discover that we don’t find true strength in our ability to go it alone but in our willingness to surrender to a grace greater than ourselves.

God didn’t work in Abraham’s life because Abraham had proven himself perfect and capable, solid and without need for help. Perhaps God worked in Abraham’s life specifically because it didn’t make sense – because God does what God does with open arms that invite us in.

And that is grace.

Imagine waking up in the morning and embracing a reality where your worth isn’t hinged on what you can (or can’t) do but on who God is — a life where you find solace in the comforting embrace of a loving Creator who journeys alongside you in every twist and turn of the journey, catching you and welcoming you into a bigger story with open arms.

Imagine a life where your “I DO IT!” is replaced with the loving whisper of God saying, “I will do it alongside you.”

When doubt creeps in and you need help holding onto hope like Abraham, may you find comfort in this simple prayer from Every Season Sacred:

“God of grace and mercy, help me to remember that I don’t have to toil, strive, or work for Your love — that You already call me beloved. Remind me that my identity is in You, not how much I can accomplish. Amen.”

As you surrender to the gentle rhythm of divine grace, may you uncover a strength that surpasses all understanding, born not of your efforts but of your hope against hope in the One who holds us with tenderness. Who lavishes grace that has nothing to do with what we can or can’t do and everything to do with God’s great compassion and desire to be with us.

As you navigate the complexities of life, may you find the courage to set aside your “I DO IT!” mentality and embrace the beauty of resting in the One who co-creates alongside you.

 

Listen to today’s devotion below or wherever you stream podcasts!

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