It’s pretty wild how often we forget what Yeshua actually taught about life, identity, and who we are supposed to be. I mean, if you’re anything like me, you might be reading the Bible and thinking, “Okay, that’s great, but what does it mean for me? How am I supposed to live in this dumpster fire of a world, juggling expectations, Insta-sin and tic-toxic filters, and my own laundry?”
In all His wisdom, Yeshua really didn’t mince words about who we are, how we should live, and what He wants from us. It’s like He saw all the self-help books that were going to come out and decided, “I’ll just get straight to the point.” He always did.
For one thing, He didn’t look for perfection. In fact, He didn’t hang out with people who had it all together. If Yeshua were around today, He wouldn’t be the guy in the perfectly tailored suit or posting about his “work-life balance.” No, He’d be at the coffee shop with the introverts, or maybe chilling with people who can’t keep their lives together (and let’s be real, that’s most of us). Yeshua wasn’t looking for your resume; He was looking for your heart. The tax collectors, the prostitutes, the sick, the confused, He wasn’t intimidated by anyone’s mess. He loved them in spite of their mess. He saw the potential in the ordinary, the broken, and the downright flawed.
Take the story of the woman at the well (John 4). Here was a woman who’d had more relationships than a Netflix drama series. Five husbands, and the guy she was with now wasn’t even her husband. If that doesn’t scream “bad decisions,” I don’t know what does. And yet, Yeshua didn’t shame her. He didn’t roll His eyes and say, “Really? Again with the poor choices?” No, He spoke to her, revealed who He was to her, and invited her into a new life. If we’re honest, most of us would avoid eye contact with someone like that, but Yeshua just sat down and had a conversation.
What’s the lesson? Yeshua doesn’t want us to pretend to have it all together. He doesn’t care about your image; He cares about your heart. If you’re waiting until you’re perfect to come to Him, you’ll be waiting forever. He’s not after the polished and perfected version of you. He’s after the real you, the one who is exhausted, confused, maybe a little sloppy, but still wanting to sit with Him and learn. That is what He values.
So let’s talk about how Yeshua taught us to live. There’s this crazy thing He said in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” I think we can all agree, the world is full of people who are laboring under the weight of unrealistic expectations; everything from “do more” to “be more.” Yeshua, though, wasn’t here to add to your to-do list. He wasn’t handing out twelve-step programs on how to be a better version of yourself (thank God). No, He was offering rest. He didn’t say, “Here’s a chart of things you need to improve on.” He said, “Let Me show you a better way to live, where you’re not constantly striving.”
This might sound contrary, but there’s liberty in embracing who we are, imperfections, quirks, mistakes, and all. You’re not an unfinished project. You’re not some half-baked cake in need of more time in the oven. Yeshua knew you’d never get everything right. He knew you’d trip and fall, (like I did a couple days ago) get confused, and struggle. And yet He still says, “You are enough.” That’s grace, my friend. The gospel isn’t about becoming someone you’re not; it’s about becoming more fully who you already are in Him.
In the middle of all the pressure to “become better,” Yeshua’ message was radically simple: “Come to Me, just as you are.” That’s why He said in Luke 18:17, “Let the little children come to me.” Do you think He was looking for their perfectly polished behavior? No, He was pointing to their authenticity. They were honest, dependent, and straightforward about who they were. Yeshua didn’t want us to grow up into stiff, buttoned-up versions of ourselves; He wanted us to come to Him with the same openness, trust, and simplicity that kids do. No performance. No pretending.
And here’s where it gets real funny: Yeshua never told us to “find ourselves.” That’s not a Bible thing. He told us to lose ourselves. Matthew 16:24 says, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” Now, don’t get it twisted. He’s not saying, “Forget your personality and become a robot.” He’s saying, “Your identity isn’t in what the world says it is. It’s in Me. And if you want to find your true self, you’ve got to lay down your need to control it all and trust Me with it.”
So, if you’re looking for who you’re supposed to be, you’re going to have to stop trying so hard to be everything the world says you should be. That’s a full-time job with no vacation days. Instead, let Yeshua lead you into who you were made to be in Him. It’s less of a “self-improvement” project and more of a “self-revelation” process.
The funniest thing about Yeshua is that He made it all so simple; so simple that we can’t seem to grasp it. We complicate it. We act like we need more. But what if the key to truly finding yourself is just letting go? Stop trying to be perfect. Stop striving for status. Stop pretending you’re something you’re not. Come to Him with all your flaws and failures, and He’ll show you exactly who you were always meant to be.
Yeshua lived and taught this truth: You’re already enough in Him. So stop running from who you are and start running toward the One who made you. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll be surprised at how much better life gets when you stop pretending and start living as you really are. He doesn’t want us to be perfect or put on a mask, but to come to Him just as we are.
image by chatgpt at my direction.