Sorry, but You Don’t Have This

Occasionally, a new buzzword or catchphrase takes hold and becomes popular. A few years back, the latest phrase became, “You got this.” I’m sure you’ve heard it said numerous times, often when a well-intended person uses this phrase to encourage someone. When faced with a daunting medical situation, a friend might say, “You got this.” Or before a job interview, a family member might send you a text saying, “You got this.” Before a sporting event, a coach might tell his team, “You got this.”

Recently, I went through a series of interviews and started a new job. Throughout the process, I received messages from several friends that read, “You got this.” Don’t get me wrong, I appreciated the encouragement. Undoubtedly, my people have my best interest in mind. But the truth is, I know “I don’t have this.” Not even a little bit. Let me explain what I mean.

If I’ve learned anything from following Jesus, it is that I am dependent on His grace. The Christian life makes demands I cannot meet. God sometimes calls His people to do things that are unlikely or downright impossible. Left to my own resources, I know I am sunk. Simply put, I don’t have what it takes. But that doesn’t matter. Why? Because God has everything I need and He is willing to supply everything I lack. Do I have to do my part and bring my best effort? You better believe it. But can I bring anything to pass in my own effort? Not a single thing. Living with this tension doesn’t mean I lack confidence. It simply means I have to be mindful of placing my confidence in the right place.

If you are a Christian, you are faced with the same scenario. I don’t mean to be rude—but you “don’t have this.” I don’t have it. Neither did Jesus’s disciples. In John 21, we find Jesus’s disciples out fishing. These men were professional fishermen and knew what they were doing. But they had fished all night and hadn’t caught a thing. Just as they were ready to give up, Jesus appeared and told them to put down their nets. They obeyed Jesus and the number of fish they brought out of the water was so large they struggled to haul it all in (John 21:6). The disciples had labored all night and caught nothing. Jesus said the word, and they brought in a huge haul of fish.

The Bible teaches we are saved not by works but by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). Most of us understand that part of the salvation equation. But after our salvation experience, we prefer to take matters into our own hands. It’s as if we think , “Thanks for the salvation, Jesus, but I’ll take it from here.” We’re prone to forget the entire Christian life is contingent on God’s grace. As Peter’s fishing trip illustrates, we even need God’s grace to be successful at things we are good at. Jesus said this would be the case. Just before going to the cross, Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me” (John 15:5).

From beginning to end, the Christian life is living from grace to grace. We never move on from that, and when we forget, we’ll soon find ourselves worn out and frustrated. Keep in mind we must do our part. Peter and his friends weren’t relaxing at home and waiting for someone to deliver food to their door—they were out fishing. But it was Jesus who brought in the haul. It’s what He does. The apostle John said, “Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17).