Embracing Our Inadequacies

I love everything there is to love about the art of writing — apart from one pretty major thing: receiving feedback.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who gets shattered by a harsh comment or bristles at being criticized. It’s part of human nature to be sensitive, especially about things that are intertwined with our perception of ourselves.

For those of you who aren’t writers or artists, who don’t have a piece of you on display meant for the audience and editors to judge, there are certainly other aspects of your life where you may receive feedback or there is possibility for growth. Personality traits, job performance, social skills, participating in sports or hobbies…there are so many areas of our lives that become all too personal when critiqued.

While we certainly shouldn’t take critiques to heart, there is also reason for us to embrace constructive criticism.

In the wise words of Winston Churchill, “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.”

But what about when we are convicted in our faith? Now that’s a whole other matter. While being told that our brushstrokes are too heavy or our pitch is too soft or our characters need deeper development doesn’t say anything about who we are as a person, our faith is our connection to Jesus. When we face convictions, we may begin to shy away from Jesus.

I’m sure you know of at least one person who is deterred from participating in a relationship with Jesus because they are afraid of being judged by Him and don’t want to feel convicted. Honestly, fair point. Especially for someone who hasn’t spent much time with Jesus and doesn’t understand much of who He is.

There are many interactions of Jesus’ in the New Testament that are uncomfortable. One of which occurs in Mark 10 when a law-abiding man approaches Jesus with a question, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Now, this man had followed every single law (at least, according to his account, and Jesus didn’t disagree), but he had accumulated great wealth. Knowing that perhaps generosity was a weakness of his, Jesus replied, “You lack one thing — go, sell whatever you have and give the money to the poor; then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.” (Mark 10: 17, 21)

This man was disheartened by the news, as I’m sure any of us would’ve been to hear that we had to give up everything we had earned. In the MOUNCE translation, which gives the Greek words and meanings alongside the English text, the word for disheartened is “stygnazō”, which means a gloomy or downcast look, as well as to be shocked and appalled.

I think most of us can relate to this man, even though we may not be rich. You’ve done everything you could do. You’ve lived a “better” life than most of the people around you. And yet, you still have more to give? When will enough be enough?

I’m not a historian or a biblical scholar, so I can’t say whether or not this man had spoken to Jesus before. Assuming that he hadn’t, imagine that this was his first interaction with this renowned teacher. He had heard how Jesus extended love in such a way that no one could leave Him unaffected. He was excited — the Bible says that he ran up to Jesus and even kneeled before him, showing reverence — but that excitement disappeared when he was met by reproach instead of love.

Or was that really what happened?

Today was the first time I noticed Jesus’ reaction to this man before He told him to give up everything he had. It says, “Jesus, looking at him, loved him”. The Greek word for loved in this passage is “agapaō”, which means “to love, value, esteem, feel or manifest generous concern for, be faithful towards and to delight in”.

Jesus wasn’t ashamed of this man for what he lacked. Jesus loved him, so much that he wanted him to take a leap of faith and follow Him. Jesus knew it wouldn’t be easy. He also knew, I’m sure, that the man would choose to walk away that day. It never says that this love of Jesus’ disappeared when the man’s doubt and hesitation rose up. And perhaps this man changed his mind and followed Jesus later.

Jesus knew what act of faith would best strengthen this man, and He challenged him to grow. Any criticism or conviction worth listening to will challenge us to do the same.

So what can we take away from this story? A number of things, as with every encounter with Jesus.

First, don’t push away convictions as they rise up in your heart. Even if you don’t accept the challenge now, consider it. Ask yourself, will making this change in my life cause me to rely on Jesus even more than I already am?

Second, your growth areas don’t define or diminish your value. When it comes to your art or work or personality, the critiques given to you by others are generally meant to give you new perspective and help you become the best version of you that you can be.

And when it comes to Jesus, His words are always out of a place of love and generous concern for you.

So today, listen to Jesus. Contemplate His words. Ask Him questions. Because He loves you so much, He wants you to go to Him with everything and rely on Him as your source of strength.

Through it all, you will rise up into the person He created you to be.

Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

Mark 10:27