God with us,

we confess that sometimes we feel like

we have to have some other kind of life to really serve you—

that we have to somehow be paragons of holiness,

that we have to pray for hours a day,

that we have to abandon all our other obligations

if we’re going to really follow Jesus.

Forgive us.

Reassure us.

Remind us it’s not all up to us,

that you’re at work within us,

and that the lives you’ve given us

are sufficient for the work you call us to.

Amen.