Christian Living

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Release Me
© 2006
by

Stephen A. Peterson


Nineteen year old Reyna Sofsky sat with her mother in the Saint Benedict Church community room listening to a speaker discuss reconciliation and forgiveness. As the session was about to come to an end, all were invited to pray and submit their pain and/or sin to the group for prayer, if they wished to do so. Reyna’s mother was taken by surprise when she noticed her crying during the prayer part of the program.

Noticing Reyna, the speaker asked, “What burdens do you wish to share with us that we may pray to the Lord for you?”

Reyna hesitated for a brief moment then responded, “I-I-I must be perfect! No matter where I am or what I’m doing, I feel that I must be perfect. I can’t make any mistakes, ever! I’m so afraid of failing at anything or failing anybody.”

Stunned at her daughter’s flowing tears, Reyna’s mother memories of a nearly perfect children sped through her mind. Her room perfectly and neatly arranged. Shoes so highly polished that one’s image could be seen. Schoolwork completed neatly and with a blemish. President of each of her high school classes. Always responsible and dependable to her parents and family. She had never in her life been late for anything. The oldest child, her parents put her in charge of her younger siblings. Never had she once ever let her parents down.

Now as she sat before her mother and the Bible study group, she sat crying in fear and despair over the pressure of always having to measure up—to be a perfect little girl to her parents. Reyna’s stunned mother put her arms around her daughter’s arms then prayed in silence: “O Lord, what have I done to this Your child?” In a prayer audible enough for Reyna to hear, the mother further prayed: “Forgive me, Lord, for I did not know what I was doing. Forgive me, Lord, for my part in this. Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, God made man, I release this, Your child, from the pressure I and my husband and others have put on Reyna. Father, in Your loving and gentle way, show my daughter failure that she may come closer to Your loving arms. Amen.”

Reyna’s mother and, in fact, many people, including Christians, accept the notion of the natural goodness of humankind. They believe that all that is necessary is to demand perfection and goodness then it will reveal itself. They seek to contradict what God has said regarding human nature. That no human may claim perfection or goodness due to sin. No one may boast regarding their goodness or perfection. To seek perfection and goodness without a Christ-filled life is fruitless and frustrating.

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