David Hollingshead

I want to tell you a story about a guy named Luca. He is not a real person, but his story is like mine in many ways.

Luca felt the weight of expectations pressing down on him. Growing up in churches that emphasized strict adherence to rules, he learned that his relationship with God depended on his performance. He internalized this message, believing that if he didn’t do everything perfectly, God would be furious with him.

As a child, Luca tried to meet these expectations. He memorized Bible verses, attended every service, and volunteered for various ministries. Yet, he always felt like he was falling short. The pressure to perform left him anxious and exhausted. He began to see God not as a loving father but as a stern taskmaster, waiting for him to slip up.

By his 20s, Luca was worn out. The joy of faith had been replaced by fear and guilt.

He felt like a failure, and the burden of trying to please God became too much.

Eventually, he stopped trying altogether, distancing himself from anything that reminded him of that world.

During those years, Luca sought fulfillment in various ways. He pursued a career, traveled, and tried to fill the void with relationships. Yet, despite his efforts, he felt an emptiness that lingered in his mind.

One day, while visiting a friend, Luca found himself in a conversation about faith. His friend invited him to church, and although he hesitated, something stirred inside him.

After much internal debate, he decided to attend the service.

As he walked into the church, Luca felt a mix of apprehension and nostalgia. The familiar sights and sounds of worship flooded back memories. He sat in the back, trying to remain inconspicuous, and listened as the pastor began to speak.

The pastor’s message was unlike anything Luca had heard before. Instead of focusing on rules, he spoke about grace — God’s unmerited favor. He shared stories of lost sinners who found redemption, emphasizing that no one was beyond the reach of God’s love. Luca felt a flicker of hope as he listened.

Then the pastor read from John 10:28: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

The words resonated deeply with Luca. For the first time, he began to understand that his relationship with God was not based on his performance but on God’s promises.

After the service, Luca approached the pastor, his heart racing. He shared his story of hurt and disappointment. The pastor listened intently and said, “Luca, God’s grace is for you. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or how you’ve strayed. Jesus’ perfect life and sacrificial death atoned for all your sins. You can trust him to forgive you and transform you.”

Tears welled in Luca’s eyes as he absorbed those words. The pastor continued, “You don’t have to earn God’s love. It’s already yours through Christ. His grace is reliable and unchanging.”

The years of guilt began to dissipate as Luca realized he didn’t have to strive for perfection to please God. He could rest in the assurance that God loved him. Jesus had died to save him, and he believed that — more than that, he was depending on it.

As Luca grew in his faith, he came to see the church as more of a hospital for the broken than a gathering of those who had it all together. He discovered the joy of a relationship with God based on love and grace. He saw the beauty of the Gospel — the good news that Jesus had fulfilled the law on his behalf. Jesus lived a perfect life, meeting every requirement of righteousness. He became the perfect sacrifice for sin.

Luca learned that when Jesus went to the cross, he took upon himself the punishment for sin. His sacrificial death paid the price for all who would believe in him. This was not just a historical event; it was a profound act of love offering redemption to everyone.

If you’re feeling weighed down by expectations or past failures, know that you don’t have to achieve anything to please God. Instead, rest in the truth that Jesus has already accomplished what you could never do on your own. Jesus fulfilled God’s law on our behalf, and because he was perfect, we can find hope and assurance in him.

(David Hollingshead is one of the pastors at Trinity Bible Church.)