Jesus never said, “Impress me.” Let that sink in, friend.

Here’s what He did say

He said:

Follow me.
Trust me.
Feed my sheep.

He never said, “Impress me”

He didn’t say impress me with your qualifications and titles or with your well-mannered children in their perfect clothes.

He didn’t say impress me with your style or clean house or your ability to do everything right.

He didn’t say impress me with your status or relationships or your friends in higher places.

He didn’t say impress me with how smart you are or how right you are or how you can do it all on your own.

His grace is sufficient

So when we start to feel overwhelmed and pressured and just so tired of all the striving and all the looking around and wondering if we’re doing enough, stop and exhale.

And inhale the glorious, sufficient presence of Jesus.

And remember He never once said, “Impress me.”

Be the friend. Be the spouse. Be the parent who could care less about being more of anything — other than being More Like Jesus.

There’s no competition there. There’s only freedom and gratitude and joy in the simple things. And so much amazing grace.

We can open our Bibles and look for Him. Look for Him beyond our own expectations and our culture’s influences. Behold Him. Breathe in His goodness and His power.

And rest.