Humanness

"For He Himself knows our frame;

He is mindful that we are but dust."

~ Psalm 103:14 ~

I had an interesting conversation with a friend the other day. We shared with one another how overwhelmed we can become with our own personal frailties. We spoke of how all to often we find ourselves caught up in this mind game of pointing out our own imperfections and shortcomings. Those very things which we tend to view as personal "failures."

Insecurity. Vanity. Pride. Self-absorption. Low self-image.

Call it what you want.

It's a trap. A downward spiral.

A most respected commentary has the following to say, in reference to Psalm 103:14. Quite honestly one of the most profound words I have read in a long time. Let me share it with you this morning:

He knows how we are made, for He made us. Our make and build, our constitution and temperament, our prevailing infirmity and most besetting temptation He well perceives, for He searches our inmost nature.

Made of dust, dust still, and ready to return to dust. We too often forget that we are dust, and try our minds and bodies unduly by excessive mental and bodily exertion; we are also too little mindful of the infirmities of others, and impose upon them burdens grievous to be borne; but our Heavenly Father never overloads us, and never fails to give us strength equal to our lot.

Have you found yourself mentally exhausted? How about physically? Perhaps both? I will be the first to say, "YES -- to both!" The world in which we live often fools us into believing that we can be all things for all people. That if we do not have something going on everyday/all-day, we are destined for failure on this journey to a purposeful life.

Not the case, according to our Heavenly Father. Why is it that reading the words, "we are but dust," seems to be rather difficult for us? Does the word humanness seem to drudge up any reaction? These few short words in Scripture remind us of our inability to attain perfection. And more that that - They remind us of the insignificance in ever even desiring such a thing. Because it is not God who has put these types of unrealistic demands upon us. No, sweet friends. We have done it all by ourselves. So truly, is it a wonder that we feel like failures 90% of the time? No, not really. Because in many ways, we have set ourselves up for it by our own unrealistically formed expectations.

So today, let's do something different. Let's take a deep sigh of relief. Let's cut ourselves some slack. And you know what? While we're at it, let's just go ahead and cut those around us some slack as well. Knowing full well that the only thing "perfect" about us is the Savior who has stamped His seal of ownership upon our souls. And let's allow that to be enough.

Because Jesus is not the One who needs to be reminded of our humanness ... We are.

Take-Away: Is my inability to come to grips with my humanness,

standing in the way of me fully experiencing His greatness?