Free to Fail

Our identity isn't in how well we perform at things; it is firmly
found in Jesus Christ and our place as children of God. That's it.

Free to Fail

This week's devotions are written by my friend Jessica Hermann, former director of our college ministry at Great Hills Baptist Church.

- Pastor Danny

I have often joked about my artistic ability or lack thereof. "It's just not my gift," I'd say. However, when we first moved to Germany, I had to wait many months to have the legal permission to work and get into a German language course. We didn't know a lot of people, and the COVID lockdowns were very intense. There were a few months where the only place I was legally allowed to go was the grocery store and the pharmacy. In these months, I had to find other things to do with my time. I exhausted many of my regular hobbies and decided on a whim to purchase a cheap watercolor set on Amazon one night.

I began to paint, and honestly, by any normal standard, I was not good... at all. I have little natural instinct toward creating art with my hands and struggled deeply doing so. As I went, I found it so odd that something as simple as painting revealed such deep lies I had believed for so long. I struggled feeling like I was wasting time, that I should be doing something more productive. I struggled feeling like I was being wasteful by throwing away paper after paper with colored blobs that didn't really resemble what I was going for.

But then I read something in my time in the Word that struck me:

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John‬ 1:12‬)

I remembered how, when I was a small child, I would paint and draw without any concern for how "good" it looked. I wasn't trying to impress anyone. I just created freely. I think somewhere along the way, I forgot that my identity isn't in how well I perform at things; it is firmly found in Jesus Christ and my place as a child of God. That's it. Whether I paint the Mona Lisa herself or pages and pages of odd looking flowers that find their way to the trash, my worth remains the same.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

So, watercolors became an act of worship, and slowly I got a little bit better.

I felt free to fail and painted simply for the joy of it as I marveled at my identity in Christ. This concept obviously extends far beyond art into our entire being. We can't earn God's approval or favor with our abilities: we are made right before God because of His grace through Christ Jesus our Savior. Our sin separated us from Him, but His grace reconciled us. What joy we can have resting in the finished work of Christ that sets us free and gives us a new identity, full of worth and meaning.

So, maybe try something you know you're bad at, and worship God for loving you all the same regardless.

Bis später! (See you later!)

- Jessica

Partner with us in spreading the Gospel!

Will you help fuel our efforts to spread the Gospel
and equip and empower other Christians to do the same?

Count me in! ▶

Podcast of the Week

Winning the Battle in Your Mind, Pt. 3

Pastor Danny continues his new series on overcoming fear, anxiety, depression, and other mental struggles, which are now more prevalent than ever before.

Listen on your preferred platform: