Come Away with Me: Dying to Self, Living in Christ

What does it really mean to abide in Christ?

It’s a phrase we hear often in church or devotionals, but for many of us, it can feel abstract, maybe even out of reach. Is it a feeling? A mindset? A set of spiritual practices? Or is it something more, a way of living, breathing, and being that begins not with striving, but with surrender?

For years, I carried the weight of trying to earn acceptance, not only from others but even from God. I poured my identity into performance, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. It worked for a while, until it didn’t.

Behind the polished surface was a soul growing more tired, more disconnected, and more spiritually parched.

The exhaustion eventually caught up with me—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The striving and self-sufficiency left me feeling defeated and unsure of who I was beneath the roles I played. There were backslidden times when I never stopped believing in God, but my faith faded because I didn't fully receive His love as I tried to earn it. I clung to self-reliance and pride, letting fear drive my actions. I even knew Galatians 2:20, but I didn't let it shape how I lived.

When Paul wrote Galatians 2:20 (NIV), he offered more than a theological truth; he handed us a daily compass for how to truly live and abide with Christ: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." That verse has echoed through many seasons of my life, growing louder each time, until I reached the end of myself.

Later in life, I had to face the toll that years of self-reliance had taken on my health and heart. It was time to surrender, truly surrender. Pride. Control. Unforgiveness.

Friend, it was done through tears, confession, and repentance to receive God's grace to really transform me from the inside out. It took all of it. Dying to self wasn’t just about letting go of sin; it was about releasing everything I used to define myself.

Through that journey, I discovered the transforming power of abiding in Christ. Jesus doesn’t call us to strive; He calls us to come. “Come away with Me,” He whispers, not as a demand but as a divine invitation. To abide means to stay, to remain, to draw near, and let His life shape our own. It’s not always dramatic. Sometimes it’s quiet and steady, like water carving its way through stone.

There’s a line in Phillips, Craig, & Dean’s song, "Crucified with Christ," that says, “Even though it took dying to survive, I’ve never felt so much alive.” That’s the paradox of the gospel. When we die to ourselves, we don’t lose—we gain. We gain peace that leads to reconciliation with Him. We gain assurance. We gain a new or renewed identity—not one we’ve created, but one rooted in Christ.

That truth is not meant to be only inspirational; it is transformational. It changes how we face hardship, how we relate to others, and how we understand our purpose. A life that abides in Christ is one that no longer relies on temporary affirmations or worldly markers of success. Instead, we begin to crave what is eternal, what is holy, what is of God. Our joy deepens, our faith strengthens, and our identity aligns with the One who created us in His unconditional love.

Maybe you’re reading this and wondering if God could really want you. Maybe your life feels too messy, too broken, too far gone. Let me gently speak this truth: Jesus gave Himself for you. And His arms are still open. He's waiting for you. 

You don’t have to clean yourself up before you come. You don’t have to have all the answers. You must choose to be willing to lay down the weight you’re carrying. That’s what it means to abide. It’s not about doing more; it’s about completely trusting Him more; It’s about resting in the truth that you are deeply loved, fully known, and never alone.

To rest in Christ is to stop striving to prove your worth. It’s to breathe deeply in the presence of a Savior who isn’t asking you to perform, but simply to be with Him. To walk with Him. To learn from Him. To abide in Him. This is where freedom begins.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) declares, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" This is more than a second chance. It’s a new beginning. A new identity. A new way to live—not by your strength but by His.

Abiding with Christ doesn’t mean every day is easy. It means you never walk alone. It means you have the Spirit of the Living God inside you, guiding you, comforting you, transforming you. And that transformation is not reserved for the “spiritually elite”; it’s available to anyone willing to die to self and truly live.

The road of surrender and abiding with Christ is not one we walk perfectly. Believe me, I know. Friend, there will be days of doubt, of struggle, of tension between the old life and the new. God understands this, so don’t let those moments push you away from Him; let them pull you closer to His heart. Into His Word. Into prayer. Into the arms of the One who died to make you His own.

So, wherever you are today, whether you’re in the valley, on the mountaintop, or somewhere in between, know this: His invitation to abide with Him still stands.

Rest in His presence and let this truth wrap around your heart like a warm blanket to remind you where you belong. Let this word from Him become your daily affirmation:

"I am crucified with Christ; therefore, it is Christ who lives within me, now and forever more!"

Anne Wooten, founder of Anne Wooten, LLC, is a Christian life coach, author, and musician who empowers Christian individuals to overcome fear, step into their purpose, and live with confidence through her coaching and writing. Connect with her on social media and learn much more about her at www.annewooten.com.