No matter where we go or what we do, we need to remember that we don’t exist for ourselves, but for a higher will and greater purpose than our own. For this reason, God never intended us to set off on our life journey by ourselves. He is very aware of the powerful forces surrounding us and how inadequately prepared we are to stave them off. So he promises to be our Helper and our Guide. In short, then, the life of Christian discipleship means this: God is in charge. He sets the course, makes all the necessary course corrections, and brings us safely to our destination.
The “I’ll-do-it-my-way” approach to life is one of the results of the original Fall. To those of us who think we’re the lead actors on the stage and everything revolves around us (believers and non-believers alike), our lives will be like a bad hair day. The quicker we take to heart what we learn in the Shorter Catechism, Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, the more profitable and enjoyable our journey will be.
The fulfillment of our dreams and hopes lies not in moving God out of our lives and marching ahead with our own plans on how to get things done, but in putting Jesus first. In recognizing his sovereign authority over everything, we find the door that leads to joyful living and life’s meaning.
Don’t give up if you have done all this, but there’s no change in your situation. Keep praying. God does hear and answer our fervent prayers. But he does so in his way and in his time, and for our best. Does this mean we need to stop dreaming and planning? No, just dream bigger, and submit your dreams to God. His will is always better.
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.-Jude 1:24–25
Photo by Hendrik Cornelissen on Unsplash
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