Life without God is excruciating. It’s absolutely horrible. Sure, there is the bit about what happens to us after we die but I’m not talking about that part. I’m talking about our life now. You start with this immense hole to fill and the world tells you how to fill it – Success, money, beauty, people … if you’re lucky. If you’re not so lucky it’s drugs, sex, alcohol.
You spend years… YEARS chasing these things, always believing the most recent lie .. ok, once I lose 10 more pounds I’ll be happy … no, ok, but if I get this promotion, that will really do it. You reach the goal and then what? You need more. It’s as if the hole grows wider with each achievement. There may exist a short-lived sense of accomplishment but then it’s on to the next thing.
It’s soooo frustrating. You never arrive. The grass is always greener on the other side. The reality is we are not built to find our joy here on earth, in the earthly realm. We are spiritual beings. None of these earthly treasures will sustain our joy.
If I’m honest, the beginning of my Christian walk was no different. I’m going to church – check. Weekly Bible studies – check. So where is the abundant life? When will I stop being a slave to sin?
And then one day by the grace of God, you find your way into his presence; his loving presence is all around you. I’m so thankful. His presence unlocked everything. It gives me purpose, it fills the huge hole in my heart. It’s where all the pieces start to click; where things start to make sense. I’m just at the beginning of my journey. If getting to know God is like peeling back an onion, I’m just past the dry crusty layer … but I’m on my way.
Lord, I want to know you better. Pull me into your kingdom God. Show me your ways. I am your disciple, teach me!
It’s amazing how we translate happiness into earthly treasures. We realize such treasures rust, and yet continue to pursue them, only to be placed in a cycle of sorrow, anxiety, and fear. Im not good enough, if I just get that promotion, I need validation from my manager, and etc. As you may or may not know, I’m a beginner in Christ. College professors might say, Jesus-101 (starting from scratch). As I seek God, and the intimate my relationship becomes, it’s clear that the foundation of happiness is not title, beauty, or money- it’s God! Why did I believe the lies of title, career, beauty, and etc., equating into joy? Why did I not question it? The further I was from God, the lies became truth. I am seeking God, because I desire to know him. It is in him that I find peace. If you think about it, God is love, God is peace, God is our provider, God is wisdom, God is salvation. Instead of saying I want love, peace, security, wisdom, and salvation; one should say, I want God, because he is all those things mentioned. He doesn’t define love, he is love, and love defines him! He doesn’t define peace, he is peace, and peace defines him! He doesn’t define security, he is security, and security defines him! He doesn’t define wisdom, he is wisdom, and wisdom defines him! He doesn’t define salvation, he is salvation, and salvation defines him! One should not fear losing love, wisdom, security, salvation, and etc., one should fear losing God, because to be away from God is to be away from experiencing all those things. If you don’t have a relationship with God, you truly have not experienced love.
Very well said Christina! The world is so seductive, it pulls you in little by little. I just thank God for helping me realized how compromised I was and for pulling me out of the nightmare. He is awesome!
There is nothing in this world that completes us like He does!
Nothing!