I look back on 2011 and have many regrets. There are words I wish I could take back; choices I would like to change, but I can’t. There are habits I hoped to establish; goals I had planned to achieve, but I didn’t.

It would be a mistake to look at my failures and, through guilt-motivation, set out to try harder this new year.

Trying harder may work for a while but, come February, most of us will find ourselves “two steps back,” discouraged and defeated.

By Grace Through Faith

Though I cannot change the past, I do have hope for change for the future. It is through the same great truths we experienced in our first moment of life with Christ.

It is by God’s grace, through my faith, that I can experience life change. 

The focus in the Bible, over and over again, is not on our works, but on God’s grace and our faith. Yes, our deeds are important, and as we grow in Christ, our actions should and will look differently a year from now; but the change we want to see in our lives—true life-change—comes only through a grace-filled work of the Holy Spirit in us, as we abide in Christ.

We see this beautiful picture of faith in the grace of God bringing forth righteousness in Abraham:

That is why [righteousness] depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all…No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:16-22 ESV)

Living Fully Convinced

Friends, will you join me in a new pursuit? To not to let my plans for more quiet times, a better prayer life, or more self-control trump my pursuit of growing strong in my faith. To make my new-year’s goals less oriented toward becoming a better person, and more toward knowing God in bigger ways.

To focus on becoming fully convinced that God is able, instead of trying to prove that I am the one who is able.

Let’s enter into this new year with a new resolution. Not one of trying harder, but one of believing better.

Here is a wrap-up of the Believing Better Series:

• Success in the Christian life is not about trying harder.
• As I focus on trusting that God knows, God cares, and God works, the burden of worry is lifted.
• Moving from knowing to believing takes me from being a hearer to a doer.
• Belief is choosing to say with conviction that He will provide, even when I’m faced with a season of waiting.
• Believing God’s promises sets me free from fear and gives me confidence. His truth has power over fear.
• A big faith will not make me believe better. But faith in my Big God will.
• Believing better means understanding that it’s not about what I have done. It’s about Him.
• My belief in God is not proven genuine by my efforts but by intentionally keeping in step with His Spirit.

Think of a struggle you have. Lingering sin that just doesn’t seem to go away. Maybe it is a tendency towards fear and anxiety? Do you struggle with impatience? Laziness? Pride?

How do you typically try to fix the problem?

The Cycle of Try Harder

I notice a cycle many of us get caught in. I saw it in college students, when I worked with Cru. I see it in church ministry. I experience it in my own life.

It starts with a need to change behavior, a longing for victory over sin.

Do this. Don’t do that. Try this, and that Take a look around, and try what she does.

When all of that doesn’t work, go look for a “better” church with a “better” pastor. Try a conference. A retreat. Another Beth Moore Study. Find an accountability partner…

TRY. TRY. TRY.

People and tools certainly have a part to play in our personal growth (and I am in no way suggesting that you stop going to church, or doing your Bible study!) But, even the best preacher, the greatest tools, and our most sincere efforts cannot change our hearts.

Effort spent on the Cycle of Trying Harder leads to frustration, failure, and it does not produce true and lasting change. It is impossible to keep this “wheel” going; whether it takes weeks or years, failure comes, and it leaves us stagnant and feeling guilty.

Two Roads Leading to the Same Thing

Some use this guilt as fuel to try even harder. They jump back in—more resolved than ever to change—but failure comes sooner or later, and the cycle continues on. Many have managed to keep this wheel going their whole life; they are exhausted, prideful souls who don’t experience the grace of God in their day-to-day living.

Others eventually see the futility, and recognize that they will never be able to change. They usually give up the cycle altogether; they quit trying to change themselves, stop coming to church, give up reading their Bible and the pursuit of being good. They, also, do not experienced the grace of God in their day-to-day living.

The problem with the Cycle of Try Harder, is that our energies are focused on the wrong thing: our own effort.

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? —Galatians 3:3 ESV

The key to realizing “success” in the Christian life is not in trying harder; it is in believing better.

Believing Better

If we focus our efforts on responding to the character of God and His work and calling in our life, true and lasting change can occur. Problem is, most of us have incorrect views of God, ourselves, and the great gospel that gives us the freedom and ability to obey.

New Year’s resolutions are around the corner. Many of us look forward to a new year, a clean start, and hope for big changes in our life and behavior. Instead of continuing on the Cycle of Try Harder this new year, we invite you to focus on Believing Better.

For the month of December the common thread in our posts will be on Believing Better. Looking at who God is, who we are as His child, and how Believing Better about God and ourselves will drive us to obedience. Not out of a guilt-ridden pressure to perform, but out of a grace-laden freedom to worship the One whom we have encountered in a deeper way.

We would love for you to join us in this journey, so be sure to subscribe to get posts sent directly to your inbox.

Are You Stuck in the Cycle of Try Harder?

Do you see yourself in this cycle? Do you see the connection between what you believe about God and how you behave? Is there lingering sin in your life which you just can’t seem to get rid of? Are you weary from the try harder life?

We’d love to walk alongside you this month—leave a comment if this resonates with you!