Almost Forgot This is the Whole Point

Sometimes I wonder… is my best enough for God?

I mean, He has to honor our effort, right? After all, we’re human. He made us. He knows our hearts. And even when we fall short, surely He sees the intention, the struggle, and the desire to do better.

Still, I catch myself spiraling into guilt.

As Christians, we can be so hard on ourselves. We try to follow all the "rules," do all the “right” things, and sometimes in the process, we unintentionally become the moral police.

We start checking boxes instead of checking in with our Creator.

We trade authentic relationship for religious performance. And y’all, I think we miss the whole point.

God wants real relationship.

One where we’re open. Honest. One where we admit when we’re not okay. One where we’re not perfect, but we show up anyway. Trying. Praying. Failing. Repenting. Learning. Growing.

I think about this often when it comes to my relationship with my mom—the woman who brought me into this world. We don’t always get along. Sometimes we get into it. But I still try to honor her. Not perfectly, but earnestly. I know our love is still intact even when we don’t see eye to eye. And I can’t help but wonder: Is this how God feels about us?

Maybe sometimes He’s disappointed. Maybe our choices don’t align with His heart. But that love? That covering? That constant presence? Never changes.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” — Jeremiah 31:3

God’s love is not like human love, it doesn’t flinch when we mess up. It doesn’t pack up and leave. His grace doesn’t give us permission to live recklessly, but it does give us room to come home. Again and again.

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” — Psalm 103:8

Now, does God correct us? Absolutely. But not to harm us or embarrass us. He corrects because He cares. The Bible says:

“The Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” — Proverbs 3:12

It’s not punishment in the way we might have experienced growing up. It’s not a belt or harsh words or the silent treatment. It’s the kind of discipline that reshapes, redirects, and restores. A gentle parent, not a vengeful one.

“Your kindness led me to repentance.” — Romans 2:4

So if you’re like me, trying your best to represent Christ and still feeling like you come up short… breathe. Don’t give up. He’s not asking for perfection. He’s asking for presence. For honesty. For relationship. Talk to Him today and be real when you do. He can't help your representative, He wants (and loves) the real you.

But here’s the thing...

we can’t confuse God’s unconditional love with permission to stay stagnant.

Yes, He knows our hearts, but that doesn’t mean we get a free pass to coast. His grace is not a loophole. Sometimes we say we’re doing our best, but if we’re honest, we haven’t checked in with God or cracked open the Word in weeks. We haven’t asked, “Lord, is this really my best? Am I living In your will? Or is this just comfortable?”

It’s so important to regularly pause and reflect not just on our actions, but on our intentions.

God doesn’t expect perfection, but He does call us to pursue Him intentionally.

His love is unconditional, but our response should be growth, not complacency.

I don't have all the answers. These are just some things I think about on the hard days. I actually wrote this blog post weeks ago when I was struggling with some personal losses. I almost forgot about these thoughts until this morning when I was watching a sermon and my pastor touched on this exact subject! I took that as a sign God wanted me to share today.

If you’ve ever wrestled with guilt, wondered if you’re doing enough, questioned if God still sees you, just know, you're not alone. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Reach out. Let’s talk. Let's grow. After all, God honors a sincere heart. And maybe, just maybe, your best is enough.