About the Author

Holley Gerth is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, counselor, and life coach. Her newest release is The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You. She's also wife to Mark, Mom to Lovelle, and Nana to Eula and Clem.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Holley,
    I, too, struggle with striving. It’s a challenge not to fall back into old habits. One thing that helps me is I remind myself, when I get into striving mode, that I’m making it all about “me”. When I let go of trying to perform for God, it allows me to rest and abide in Him – waiting to see what HE wants to perform THROUGH me. That, in turn, makes it all about “Him”…which I find is the ultimate sweet spot. Praying for us both to leave the striving behind and simply run the race…
    Blessings,
    Bev

    • Yes, love this!! Recognizing that what we have isn’t ours. It’s Christ’s and He has given it to us to use for His for his glory. Amen!

    • I loved this, Bev. I’m definitely guilty of making “it” all about ME. God’s been talking to me about this too. 🙂

      • This seems to be a lesson I have to re-learn every so often. I get it right for awhile and then the me, me, me wants to take over again. My continual prayer is more of Him, less of me. Standing with you Jeanne!
        Blessings,
        Bev

    • Wonderful, wise advice, Bev. Thank you for this! Shifting focus from the cares of this world to Jesus, as often as necessary, will grow the habit of abiding. ‘Love your term, “ultimate sweet spot,” to describe that place under His wing!

      • Nancy,
        I love the word abide…even just to say it gives a sense of peace and rest. When I’m striving, I’m certainly not at peace, nor am I in the “sweet spot”. If only I could get and stay there continually!! Only in His power…and under His wing…
        Blessings sweet friend,
        Bev

  2. Great post! I definitely agree that we need to get out of the comparison game – Jesus in fact led the way on this way when he rebuked James and John for arguing over who was the best.

    On the other hand, I have a different view of group running – if I didn’t have others with me, I wouldn’t do it in the first place! 😉 Call it comparison, but sometimes that’s all that’s keeping me moving! 😉 Hehe, we do what we can…

  3. We know the truth, but we slip back into unhelpful patterns. Thanks be to God that He provides regular reminders — and your words today have been that blessing for me!

  4. I love this statement “Where my vision goes, my feet will follow.” Jesus keeps us on our toes. At the end of the day, all we need to hear is “well done my good & faithful servant. ” He wants us to be at peace, so that we can strive to be the best servant for Him. We don’t have to try to impress Him or overextend ourselves. ..just rest in Him.

  5. It is just nice to know that others share the exact same feelings I experience. It is also good to have the reminder we only need JESUS, no matter what path we are walking or running.

  6. Holley, I loved what you said here: “Where my vision goes, my feet follow.” This is so true. When my eyes are focused on the Lord, I tend to walk with confidence and peace. When I shift my focus to others—usually in some unhealthy form of comparison—then my heart becomes unsettled and discontent. I have to be reminded that God knows the twists and turns in my race, and I only need to follow His guiding.

    Such a great post today. Thank you.

  7. I Love reading your posts they are such an encouragement to me! Love you♡♡

  8. Thanks you so much for putting into words how I’ve been feeling lately. “There’s too much to do and to many people to please.” O how I have been stuck in that cycle. I feel like I am on a hamster wheel some days. Too much stress and getting nowhere. Thanks for the scripture that you shared. It was very timely for me. What a great reminder that we do all things for Jesus and we only have to please Him. Thanks for sharing.

  9. I find his message for me in this post. I too wonder in my career and as a wife and mother, am I doing enough, and I good enough. I have to remember not to focus on things but to turn my eyes to the creator and entrust my life into his hands. There is no other place to leave my worries, goals, and achievements. Because after all I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me 🙂

  10. Much as we would like to maintain our focus on Jesus at all times, our attention does waver. Philippians 3:13-14 gives us the course to follow: forget the past (including the times we’ve compared ourselves to others instead of fixing our eyes on Jesus) and strain ahead (toward continued growth and progress in our relationship with him). Thank you Holley!

  11. Ah yes. Sounds familiar. I was just telling my husband yesterday that this rut of a mind set I’ve been in – where all my concern and attention and worry is circled around other’s opinions and impressions – has.to.go. It kills joy, steals contentment, and withers us. Lord, remind us that we are Yours, and that that means we are enough. Thanks for the confirmation.

    Blessings, Kate 🙂

  12. The Lord answered my prayer about this a long time ago, i never thought I could be as good as other people, I literally hear the words resounding in my soul. ” You’re not in competition, you are in Christ. “

  13. Holley,

    “I don’t have to go fast. I don’t have to go far. I simply need to run with, for, and toward Jesus.” Wise words my friend! I need this reminder daily. Since quitting my job last year I find myself questioning if I’m doing enough “God” stuff and comparing myself to others. He needs to remind me that I wasn’t made like them their personality. Do what you can when you can as often as you can and always always run toward Jesus!!!
    Blessings 🙂

  14. Oh, how I struggle with this! Having recently agreed to head up our VBS program, I have been rounding up volunteers to help out. Last Wednesday night at church, someone approached me and said, “I asked my friend (from another church) if she would like to help and she said she would!” They went on to inform me of how good she would be because this was right up her alley since she in fact, has “headed up and directed VBS at her church.” In no way did my friend have any unkind intentions. It was actually meant to encourage me. But it did the opposite. Instantly, Satan snickered in my heart… “What on earth are you doing? Why do you think that you, of all people are going to be able to do this?” I smiled and thanked my friend but inside, I was defeated. I sat there waiting for service to start and prayed, “God, why do I do this to myself? Why do I always allow myself to be intimidated?” I prayed for a little while but by the time service started, my heart still hurt.
    We have been doing a study on the armor of God. Our pastor began this night by saying he was going to do something a little different and show a video that went into some detail about the actual Roman armor. At one point, the video showed the army as it adanced toward the enemy, all the while banging rhythmically on their shields with their swords. Our pastor stopped and asked, çDo you

  15. I sit in the parking lot at my job. Please, Father…remind me of this when I begin to feel I must make an impression on the right people. All I need to work for….is You!

  16. I tried pleasing everyone and ended up skipping breaks at work and taking late, short lunch breaks. I did everything I could to avoid people being unhappy with me. All this accomplished was a mini meltdown and having to take a personal day from work to refresh and remind myself why we need to be more concerned with what God thinks rather than pleasing everyone.

  17. I like this. I’ve been struggling so much with feeling like a failure and wondering if I’m good enough for God. I’ve been letting multiple naysayers get to me, and lately I’ve been losing hope. But this reminds me I don’t have to be “good enough” because God already is. I’m not a failure. I just have to walk alongside him and no one else.

  18. “I’ll run miles and miles more than He ever intended and then wonder why I’m weary.” So true! Thank you.