Cary Schmidt - Stop Trying: How to Receive—Not Achieve—Your Real Identity

Its hard to imagine a book more needed right now than this one. In a world where people trade away nearly everything valuable to achieve what only turns out to be artificial identity, Cary Schmidt stands at the crossroads to offer the reader something infinitely betterreal identity and purpose from our Creator. I couldnt put this book down!

MARK HOOVER

Lead Pastor, NewSpring Church, Wichita, KS

Understanding who we are and whose we are is fundamental to following Jesus on mission in this world. Too many of us walk around trying to be someone we are not, to prove our worth to people whose admiration cant fill our hearts in ways only Jesus can. And there are too many cheap substitutes for affirmation and identity that only disappoint. This is why Cary Schmidts work is a welcome, refreshing respite for weary Christians tired of proving themselves, striving for illusory approval. Schmidt points us to the warm embrace of our heavenly Father and the empowering and liberating vision of what it means to find our identity in the One who made us.

DANIEL DARLING

Senior VP of NRB; pastor and author of several books, including The Dignity Revolution, The Characters of Christmas, and A Way With Words

Raw, honest and extremely helpful. Every Christian needs to come to terms with what Cary came to terms with; he has the scars and testimony and shares with us here. This is life-altering stuff in the most positive way.

RON EDMONDSON

Pastor, author, consultant at RonEdmondson.com

What if we stopped trying so hard to please others? What if we discovered the way to find the joy and peace that comes from discovering our identity in Christ? In Stop Trying, Cary Schmidt does a masterful job of showing the transformation of the followers of Jesus so we might understand the path for our transformation as well.

THOM S. RAINER

Founder and CEO, Church Answers; author of Where Have All the Church Members Gone?

Wow! Please walk this journey! Words fly off the page and into your mind as if your own heart wrote them. We all hurt the same and need the same remedy: Gods presence.

MELINDA CAZIS

Pastors wife, mom, college professor, Christian in NYC

In Stop Trying, Cary Schmidt has uncovered the real issue of identity crisis, which includes a cultural form of identity theft that we inflict upon ourselves. Our true identity in Christ prunes away the high maintenance identities that weve crafted, allowing for growth and genuine satisfaction. This book leads to something better than the best lifeit helps the readers to have abundant lives in Christ.

FRANCIE TAYLOR

Keep the Heart LLC

On the path to seeing ourselves as God sees us, Cary Schmidt is a trustworthy guide. With clear language, engaging stories, and rich biblical insights, Stop Trying will lead you into a fresh encounter with the gospel. By focusing on Christ, Cary shows us, our true selves come into focus. This is a message of hope for all of us.

RYAN LOKKESMOE

Pastor and author of Paul and His Team: What the Early Church Can Teach Us about Leadership and Influence

With refreshing transparency and biblical clarity, Cary explains the wonderful liberty of simply resting in Jesus. How I wish that my younger performance driven self could have read Stop Trying thirty years ago! You will come away from this book freshly astounded by the grace of God and refreshingly energized by what Jesus is doing in your life.

KURT SKELLY

Pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, VA

Discover the real struggle in life, why it matters, and what to do about it! This book unmasks the empty life, stands you in front of a mirror, and helps you see the beautiful you that God has created in Christ. This book takes you on a radical journey that will transform and ground you.

RAYMOND CAZIS

Pastor of International Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY

Stop Trying answers some of the most pressing identity questions of our time with the clarity of the gospel. It will invite you to embrace your gospel identity and experience the peace that comes from living out who you were created to be in everyday, practical ways. I absolutely agree with this book!

SCOTT TEWELL

Pastor of Rosedale Baptist Church, Rosedale, MD

This is a compelling and deeply transformational book! Imagine having an identity that is durable no matter what life throws at you. In Stop Trying, Cary Schmidt unmasks the weak identity structures of our culture, and replaces them with the only strong identity option. This book will set you free to grow into and live out of who you really are.

JOHNNY HUNT

Sr. Vice President of Evangelism and Leadership, North American Mission Board

Former Sr. Pastor, First Baptist Church of Woodstock, GA

Former president of the Southern Baptist Convention

2021 by CARY SCHMIDT

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.

All emphasis in Scripture has been added.

Published in association with agent Cynthia Ruchti with Books & Such Literary Management.

Edited by Amanda Cleary Eastep

Interior and cover design: Erik M. Peterson

Cover illustration of man looking up copyright 2018 by Serhii Borodin/iStock (1072415440). All rights reserved.

All websites and phone numbers listed herein are accurate at the time of publication but may change in the future or cease to exist. The listing of website references and resources does not imply publisher endorsement of the sites entire contents. Groups and organizations are listed for informational purposes, and listing does not imply publisher endorsement of their activities.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Schmidt, Cary, author.

Title: Stop trying : how to receive --not achieve--your real identity / Cary Schmidt.

Description: Chicago : Moody Publishers, [2021] | Includes bibliographical references. | Summary: In Stop Trying youll understand why defining your identity outside of Jesus Christ is ultimately fragile, hollow, and unsatisfying. Become grounded in theology and delight in a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ that helps you know who you are by knowing Him-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020031946 (print) | LCCN 2020031947 (ebook) | ISBN 9780802419989 (paperback) | ISBN 9780802498892 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Identity (Psychology)--Religious aspects--Christianity.

Classification: LCC BV4509.5 .S325 2021 (print) | LCC BV4509.5 (ebook) | DDC 248.4--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020031946

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020031947

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