Will I Ever Become Holy?

You’re so tired.

Not the kind of tired that happens when the day has been long and you’ve been on your feet and running errands and picking up groceries and trying to catch up on the laundry.

It’s not the kind of bone-tired you’ve felt after working an eight, ten or even twelve-hour day.

And it’s not even the kind of soul tired that you’ve experienced when you or someone you love is suffering from sickness or trial or trauma.

No. You’re the kind of tired that comes from trying for so long to figure out how to be holy because that’s what God has called you to be but no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to manage it. It’s a kind of tired that has settled so deep into your soul that it has taken root and grown and spread so much that it’s affecting every other aspect of your life making you feel unable and unqualified and unworthy and so very…..

unholy.

This unholy tiredness is ruining you;

wreaking havoc in you spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

You have moments; days; weeks; or sometimes even, months of reprieve where you;

- hear a sermon or read a book that inspires, challenges and motivates you;

- or you have a friend who reminds you that you’re more than you think you are, and she speaks encouragement to you and you begin to feel better about yourself;

- or maybe you just forget for a while, that you long for holiness, because life gets busy and you have million other things that you are thinking about;

but eventually, that reprieve fades away and you slip back into the realization that you are not holy; or at least, not holy enough.

And then shame and guilt and discouragement take over and that tiredness that comes with trying to figure out how to be holy settles in once again, and you begin to understand that you are actually, not holy at all.

I know that kind of tired.

I feel that kind of tired.

But here’s the thing. (And I have to remind myself of this time, and time again.)

Holiness is not something that we can attain by decision making, trying harder, reading books, listening to other people tell you how to be holy, nor through trial and error.

There is only one way to become holy and that is through abiding in Jesus and allowing Him to abide in you.

Jesus tells us in John 15:4-11

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[a] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

See, here’s the thing;

You and I cannot attain holiness without Jesus. It simply isn’t possible. But here’s the amazing truth about holiness; if we are truly abiding in Jesus, we won’t be able to not become holy. Holiness is like a by-product of abiding in Jesus. In Jesus’ words, He is the Vine, and if we remain in Him, we will automatically produce fruit of holiness. That’s the way the Holy Spirit works.

When we remain connected to Him, His holiness automatically becomes more evident in our lives; in the way we live. We cannot stay connected to Jesus and not end up looking more like Him. That’s the whole point of Christianity; we surrender ourselves to Him; He dwells within us by the power of the Holy Spirit; and we slowly but surely, become more like Him; we become essentially, little Christs.

You desire holiness.

And that is so good! Jesus desires that you be holy as well.

But rather than exhausting yourself by trying and failing to figure out how to be holy on your own, delve instead, into the Word of God. Seek Jesus. Seek Him more than you ever have. Every day when you wake up, commit yourself to Him and to abiding in Him. Talk to Him like you would talk to a friend. Tell Him your struggles and your hopes and your fears. Sing to Him in your car or in the shower or when you’re washing the dishes. Ask Him to help you abide in Him and invite Him to abide fully and completely in you. He will.

And holiness will become a part of who you are.

Because if you’re abiding In Jesus and He is abiding in you, you can’t help but be holy.