Bridging the Gap

"A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" (Robert Browning, Andrea del Sarto, 1855)

Growing up, this was my favorite motivational quote. (I was an English/Philosophy major after all.) This quote inspired me to dream big, to reach beyond my abilities, to aspire to be the best. As an impressionable young woman who thought she could conquer the world, I read Browning's words to mean that I should always strive to be more than I am -- or what's a heaven (the ultimate aspiration) for?

And strive I did. To excel in high school so that I could go to the college of my choice. To double-major/double-minor in college so that I could get into a top-tier law school. To make stellar grades in law school so that I could land the perfect job. To be the best in my field so that I could be a Supreme Court justice. Yep. I'm embarrassed to admit it now -- but I had a life plan at the ripe old age of 8. And it all rested on reaching for more. Striving for one achievement after another with each goal a little loftier than the one before. Figuratively, with "heaven" as the paramount goal.

Oh, what a metaphor for my spiritual life for the last 35 years! Although I've always known that my salvation wasn't dependent upon my efforts, I haven't always acted as if I believed that Truth. How often have I unintentionally sought God's favor by striving to be the best student, daughter, church-attender, volunteer, servant, mother, wife, friend, Bible-study teacher, scout leader, homeroom mom, neighbor . . . Christian? Oh my, how frequent are my subconscious efforts to earn God's love.

But I know the Truth: He loves me just as I am -- a failing sinner. I will never be good enough on my own, and that's why He sent His Son to be good enough for me. That's what a heaven is for. Because I can reach all I want for God, but I can't grasp Him without Jesus. My reach will always exceed my grasp.

So this morning, God has revealed a whole new meaning to my favorite quote. When my reach exceeds my grasp, I can't bridge the gap with more ambition and striving. I must fill the gap with Jesus. Not only with respect to my salvation, but in all of my day-to-day struggles. When my reach exceeds my grasp, God wants me to look to Him for strength. Not to my own efforts. In fact, He created me so that my reach will exceed my grasp. So that I will run to Him when I inevitably fail. And that is what a heaven's for.

"'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).