Verse of the Day 

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV)

Quote of the Day

“Some people spend so much time worrying about what might happen that they never enjoy what is happening [now]. … Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.”

– Billy Graham

Reflection

Many of us are inclined to overthink or worry about the future. This mindset produces anxiety and becomes a barrier to a proper appreciation of the present. When we preoccupy ourselves with what may or may not be, we overload ourselves with concerns. If we dwell long enough, we rob today of its joy and misapply excess mental bandwidth on speculation about the future.

God’s word reveals that this is not the ideal approach. God instructs us to let each day to worry about itself because each one brings enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34). Today’s verse offers us encouragement in the same vein. It assures us that God “has made everything beautiful in its time.” Although we are not privileged to know what the future will bring, we can trust the One who will open those doors in their rightful time.

Making plans, setting goals, preparing for the future, and establishing a vision are all reasonable if we are willing and adaptable to shift those plans in light of God’s will. In my life, God has taken me on several unexpected detours and redirected me on a path I didn’t envision. Yet, every time He has done this, I have been able to look back and see that His plan made sense. The detours I resisted often became the very roads that shaped me.

Although God owes me no explanation, when I look back, I can see God’s mercy, grace, love, and patience in my life. In the middle of the battlefield, we might be in too much pain to understand His greater purpose. It could take months or even years to look back and acquire the perspective to grasp why He allowed certain things to happen. God may offer you perspective, but if He doesn’t, it is wise to trust that He has a reason for all of it. Take refuge in Him and remember that He has your best interests and His glory in mind with everything that He has ordained to come to pass.

Application

Remind yourself to focus on the present rather than worry about the future or obsess over the past. That doesn’t mean our current situation is a walk in the park. Many of us are fighting battles others may or may not know about. The key is to hold fast to God’s promises and rest in the certainty that God will not abandon us.

Everyone other than Jesus Christ is capable of letting you down. Even our most beloved family and friends may hurt us from time to time. That’s why we need to extend one another the grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness God has extended us. We exercise wisdom when we don’t allow the pain we encounter in this fallen world to lead us away from God.

We need to express our constant appreciation for God’s presence. Even if we have nothing obvious to be grateful for, which is seldom the case, as believers, we can still thank God for saving us from hell and securing our position in heaven with Him for eternity. Even if pain and distress envelop us for the rest of our lives, if we know Jesus Christ, we have everything that matters.

Praise God for that today, and take a few moments to express your gratitude for the other numerous things He has likely blessed you with. It may just be the icing on the cake compared to the most significant spiritual blessings, but other blessings may provide us the perspective we require to realize that God has never failed to give us what we need.

Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You, Father, for supplying all my needs. I appreciate all the doors You closed that weren’t right for me and those that You opened at the right juncture. As Your word tells us, You have made everything beautiful in its time. I surrender to Your timing, Father.

Thank You for putting eternity in my heart and giving me the peace of mind to know that it is secure in Your loving arms through Jesus Christ, Your Son, and my Lord and Savior.

Father, I confess I am a sinner who needs Your mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness. I know that despite my best efforts, I fail You and others every day in one form or another. However, I am thankful that every day is a fresh start to do my best to love You with all my heart, body, mind, soul, and strength. Please help me to love my neighbors as myself, too.

Please ease my worries and anxieties, dear God, and replace them with the comfort of Your presence and peace. I trust that I can persevere over any obstacle or difficulty with You on my side. Please steer me in the direction that delights You most. I have faith that You will work everything out for my good and Your glory.

I pray in Jesus Christ’s precious, holy, and mighty name.

Amen.

One outstanding way that instant gratification has ramped up in recent years is with the advent and progression of social media. Most of us agree that social media has its perks, but it’s not all unicorns and rainbows. The creators of these applications have designed them to engage the user base in a way that goes beyond briefly engaging the user. The goal is often simple. Those who have worked on these applications have openly shared their intentions to captivate our attention and keep us on the applications for as long as possible.

There is an addictive component to seeing likes, comments, and shares roll in from our family, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. For most of us, the crowd consists primarily of people many don’t know well. We have become addicted to digesting bite-sized content and exchanging memes with people we often only know superficially! Meanwhile, we find ourselves gravitating to our phones when we’re around some of the people we love the most. It takes deliberate effort to silence our phones and give our loved ones the gift of our attention. When we fail to do this, we are falling for the trap.

Don’t get me wrong. These applications have also empowered many with a platform to share their message with people who wouldn’t have otherwise heard them. It has opened the door to conversations and debate in the public square where those who may not have had a say now have one. It has even allowed us to share the Gospel and conveniently connect with family and friends when we cannot reach out in person. The impact is not all negative, but we often glaze over some detrimental impacts without much thought. Many of our younger generations need more face-to-face interaction to develop communication skills. Online communication and texting have replaced a significant amount of in-person connections. The infrequency of this situation may cause them to struggle due to a lack of in-person connection with their peers. Instead, they live with their heads tucked downwards, focusing on the online side of their world.

Another area of concern, also revolving around applications and social media, applies to many of us. We switch between bite-sized pieces of content across various topics in brief reels, shorts, and clips. It’s become quite rampant, and as a result, our attention span has suffered. Suppose we get caught up in a treadmill of digesting these little nuggets of information back to back without any real connectivity between topics. In that case, it’s no wonder we may find it challenging to focus on things like reading a book or remaining attentive in conversation.

These developments aren’t limited to social media. The ease of access to anything from fast food to online streaming platforms for entertainment puts everything at our fingertips. These comforts and pleasures can deter us from meaningful pursuits when we allow them to run rampant. Most things worth pursuing in life involve a lot of effort over an extended period. It takes a certain level of sacrifice, risk, and delayed gratification to make our greatest dreams a reality. Suppose we get accustomed to the easy way to stimulate our brains and get immediate gratification. In that case, making meaningful sacrifices toward the future rewards God has in store for us becomes more arduous.

We will find more long-term fulfillment in investing for the future than maximizing our comfort now (Ecclesiastes 1:14). For example, every good relationship takes work. We need to figure out how our partners give and receive love, and we need to figure out their communication styles in instances where we may not understand them. We must aim to understand their behavior patterns and exercise the patience to consider their perspective (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). As people, we all grow and develop, so there must be grace to extend to one another as we mature. Who are we not to extend the love, grace, and patience that God has given us (John 3:16)? Sometimes, on the most challenging days, we must choose love. A loving relationship carries sacrifices and risks, but we can say the same thing about almost everything worth doing. If we keep at it together, it’s only a matter of time before you see the fruit of your efforts.

The Christian life is all about sacrifice, risk, and delayed gratification. We sacrifice by taking up our cross daily and serving God (Luke 9:23). Some of us risk our comfort, jobs, and lives in obedience to God’s call (Philippians 2:30). When we obey God in this life, we practice a form of delayed gratification (Matthew 16:25-27). Instead of living for this world’s fleeting pleasures, we seek to store treasure in heaven (Matthew 16:25-27). Rather than indulging the desires of the flesh, lust of the eyes, or the pride of life, we walk in the victory that Jesus Christ gave us over sin and death (1 John 2:16, 1 Corinthians 15:55-56). We prioritize obeying God even when it costs us something because He first loved us, and now we love Him (1 John 4:19, John 14:15).

Does this all mean we must walk in perfection? No. Only Jesus Christ did that. However, it does mean God has called us to serve in a way that transcends this world’s distractions. When we live for the moment, we may enjoy much pleasure. If we sacrifice solely for the luxuries and amenities in this world, we may also achieve those. But the most extraordinary form of sacrifice, risk, and delayed gratification is to live for God by emulating His Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). He calls us to put Him first and make sure this world and everything in it comes secondary to us (1 John 2:17).

Anything we do that involves sacrificing something in this world for the sake of God and His glory will echo into eternity (Romans 8:18). We will never regret prioritizing God by utilizing our gifts, talents, resources, and energy to execute His will. We can only fill the missing puzzle pieces in our hearts through fellowship with Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:17-19). God has designed us to bring Him glory by being ambassadors for His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Don’t forget your identity in God, and remember that everything you do for Him is eternally meaningful (2 Corinthians 5:17).

May God’s love for you overflow as you serve Him by loving those around you. When we are friends of God and genuinely desire to live for Him, it will not be too hard to make the sacrifices and delays in gratification warranted to glorify Him (James 2:23, John 15:15). Before you know it, you’ll reflect Jesus Christ in more and more aspects of your life as you mature in faith. We all need to surrender our idols and work on ensuring this world’s distractions don’t steal our hearts away from our true purpose (Ezekiel 36:25). Praise God for His help in empowering us to do so!

Other times, we will seek confirmation about vital life choices. We might want to know if it’s time to take the next step in a relationship, a career choice, or another critical juncture (1 Peter 1:13). But sometimes, the only way to determine whether things will work out is to keep moving forward one action at a time (James 1:22). It is better to take incremental steps toward a greater goal than to rush into something prematurely and unprepared (Proverbs 16:9).

Are you unsure if God is giving you the green light to get married? Keep dating and pray for clarity. Do you need help to decide whether to transition from your current job to another employer? Keep working and pray for God to open and close doors that pertain to employment as He sees fit (Proverbs 3:5-6). Is it plausible that God wants to teach you something where you are right now and wants you to be patient (Romans 8:24-25)? Pray for wisdom to determine if you’re missing out on a lesson or if it’s time to make a more substantial adjustment (James 1:5-8). So, ultimately, we aim to balance aligning our desires with God’s timing and continue preparing for the future (Ecclesiastes 3:17).

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” – Corrie ten Boom

Look back a year, several years, or even a decade. Hasn’t God always been faithful to help you overcome every obstacle? He has a perfect track record (Romans 5:5). Why would you start doubting Him now? When you look back, do you see that there’s been significant progress in your life? Sometimes, it may be a slow progression from our perspective, but in God’s eyes, it’s the perfect timeline. We don’t have to measure our success based on the speed at which others operate. There will be people who may appear to have an advantage over us in several areas of life, but often, they may even feel the same way about us. Even if we counted all of it as a loss, it would be worth it if it were necessary to gain Jesus Christ in return (Philippians 3:8).

In any case, we don’t know what they sacrificed to get where they are. So, instead of staring at greener grass on their side of the fence, we should applaud the success of our peers and keep an eye on our lawn care instead. Their blessings don’t interfere with God’s timing for our blessings (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). The mistake lies in spending too much time and effort focusing on their gains rather than our victory in Jesus Christ (Psalm 118:14).

Instead of spending excessive time on social media or daydreaming about those around us, we should be investing in God’s will for us. We should concentrate on the things above and navigate life with an eternal mindset (Colossians 3:2). There’s no superior way to conduct our lives than doing everything for God’s glory and our ultimate good. If we love God and He calls us according to His purpose, we know that God guarantees this outcome for eternity (Romans 8:28). Does that always pan out how we want to in this life? No, but that’s where our faith comes in. A faith that in and of itself is a gift from God to us (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

We cannot find fulfillment in the things of this world (1 John 2:17). Only in God and a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ, can we find our anchor of hope (Hebrews 6:19-20). He is the sole source able to complete the gigantic, missing puzzle piece in our hearts (Psalm 107:9). Without Him, we have nothing and cannot produce anything of eternal value (John 15:5). With Him, we have everything, including the blessing of sharing eternity in heaven with Him forever (1 John 2:24-25)! If we try to find personal satisfaction in the limited things here on earth, we will always come up short (Ecclesiastes 1:14). 

Nothing can appease us in the long term without God being at the center (Psalm 16:11). Apart from God, people feed the insatiable appetites of their flesh, and unmet expectations abound. A man or woman of God knows they cannot find lasting joy, satisfaction, contentment, or blessings in this world apart from God (1 John 2:16). We cannot even discover it in the good things when we idolize them over God who provides every good and perfect gift in its time (James 1:17). Sometimes, God may not offer specific opportunities until we’re ready to handle them and steward them graciously. Otherwise, we may get lost in the blessing and lose sight of the bigger picture found in His plan (2 Peter 3:9).

We must be open to the idea that since God gives us everything, He also has the authority to take away anything at any time He pleases (Psalm 24:1; Job 1:21). However, we know His character is unchanging, and His promises are irrevocable (Hebrews 13:8). For instance, God is not taking away that eternal gift of fellowship He gave you through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). You don’t have to worry about losing your salvation if you have found it in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). But it would be tragic if that promise led you to backslide or compromise your faith at every turn (Romans 6:1-2). Instead, it should inspire us to do good works that glorify Him (Ephesians 2:10). We must cling tightly to God’s promises and understand that some are conditioned based on our obedience. We must also distinguish between principles and promises to avoid confusion, but that is beyond the scope of today’s article.

May God equip all of us to seek Him above all else. May we walk in the victory Jesus Christ already won. Jesus Christ is our forerunner in the faith. He fully understands the gravity of what we go through regarding every aspect of humanity, including our trials and temptations (Hebrews 6:19-20). He alone can empathize with us on the deepest level and comfort us in times of need. The One who bottles our tears and counts the hairs on our heads will not abandon or forsake us (Psalm 56:8-11; Luke 12:7; Hebrews 13:5). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. May we bring God glory in all our endeavors and submit to His will by aligning our desires with His (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Living a fulfilling and fruitful life as a believer involves discovering your purpose. We must all determine our God-given assignment to determine what He would have us invest our focus. Without this sense of direction, our lives can become aimless. It becomes easy to fall into the snare of potential distractions, instant gratification, or the pursuit of temporary idols without a clearly defined mission (Romans 1:22-25). Our faith in God and relentless pursuit of His will provide the antidote for those traps. Seeking God’s desires keeps us focused on the meaningful things in life and helps us avoid turmoil (2 Timothy 2:22).

Find God’s purpose amid an ocean of distractions.

Some things can benefit us when we don’t over-emphasize them (1 Corinthians 10:23-24). For example, excelling in a career, pursuing quality relationships, or finding some satisfaction in achievements all have their place in a well-rounded life (Ecclesiastes 3:11-13). The problem comes when one or more of these pursuits detract from our relationship with God. These are among the most common places where we find some aspect of our purpose. That’s why we must be careful not to allow the good things in life to become idols. We cannot overemphasize them to the point of neglecting God.

There are times when overlap exists between a career and a Godly directive, but for many Christians, these are two distinct pathways. We may honor God with how we excel at work, love our significant other, or honor Him with our achievements. However, when such pursuits align with our purpose in the Kingdom of God, we will experience unparalleled satisfaction. It is essential to align our goals with God’s will by spending time with Him to discern where to invest our time, energy, and resources (John 15:5).

Differentiate between worldly pursuits and Godly ambitions.

It is easy to distinguish between modern distractions and finding your meaning in obedience to God’s will. If an activity or ambition leaves you feeling empty or dissatisfied on some level, you are likely not actively pursuing your calling (Romans 12:1-2). The reality is that most of us if not all, need to cope with many things we prefer not to do on any given day. There are times when you will also have to find motivation and strength from God to walk out the calling He lovingly placed upon your life. But, even after all the diligent work, if you feel a sense of peace, joy, and satisfaction for having done it, you are on the right track. For clarity, you might ask yourself questions such as:

• “Is this something that honors, glorifies, and acknowledges God?”
• “If money was no object, would I be willing to do this for free?”
• “Do I see positive results for God’s kingdom?”
• “Am I investing in my immediate gratification or in eternity?”
• “Am I making a difference in other people’s lives?”
• “Has a fellow believer pointed out that this might be an area of gifting in my life?”
• “Does what I do for God come a bit easier to me than it might for other believers who may themselves be gifted in other areas?” 

As you reflect on these questions and, most importantly, pray about what God would have you do, do not feel discouraged if you are unsure what your niche is. I find myself enjoying writing and teaching about the Bible. I take this calling in my life seriously, knowing that as a teacher of God’s Word, I am subject to a high standard of judgment (James 3:1). Accuracy in those works is among my utmost priorities because I want to teach people without compromise. I aspire for my work to be as error-free as possible. Remember that whatever we do unto the glory of God, we should pursue with our best effort (1 Corinthians 10:31).

What is the connection between our faith and purpose?

It takes faith to invest substantial time in God’s assignment for you (Matthew 17:20). In doing God’s work, you rarely receive positive feedback, earn significant sums of money, or enjoy the world’s applause (John 15:18-21). But you will still answer the calling God has placed in your heart because it will be one of the few ways to find fulfillment and joy in serving God (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). It becomes easier when we realize that living for eternity is superior to everything this world offers (Matthew 6:19-21).

There is also a sense of connectivity and identity found in serving God that we don’t experience when we are solely seeking our best interests. When we participate in something larger than ourselves, looking outside ourselves rather than reflecting on our needs, we recognize that our concerns shrink rapidly (Philippians 2:3-5). We can’t always avoid difficult times, but helping others often brings peace. Looking outside our needs and helping others with their needs shifts our perspective from selfish desires to gratitude and contentment (Acts 20:35; 1 Timothy 6:6-10). 

Seeing that we are not alone in our desire to serve God and His people is a blessing. Sharing the common ground of mutual desires to utilize our gifts, talents, resources, time, and energy to glorify God alongside our faithful friends provides us extra motivation to keep fighting the good fight of faith (2 Timothy 4:5-8). Our Church often motivates us to pursue God’s work in righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11-12; Galatians 5:22-23). We can often accomplish this independently, too. Still, we must always return to God, His Word, and our Christian friends to nourish us with the spiritual sustenance we desperately need to persevere (Philippians 4:6-7).

Faith in God’s Word is our moral compass.

Knowing God’s Word and utilizing it to guide our actions should go hand-in-hand. Faith is the fuel that takes us from knowledge to wisdom (James 1:5-6). When we believe God’s Word, we are compelled to be proactive in light of what we know to be true. When we know, believe, and apply God’s Word, we prioritize God’s will over our own. We will follow God’s commands, leading us to better decisions on our journey with Him (John 15:14-16). If glorifying God is our ultimate purpose, it should be intuitive that His Word is the blueprint for that intention to flourish (1 Corinthians 6:20). 

The more our faith aligns with God’s Word, the more frequently we will see it manifest itself in our actions. None of us will ever regret placing our faith in our Maker. He is sovereign over everything (Colossians 1:16-17), loves us more than we can fathom (1 John 4:7-10), does not change (Malachi 3:6), and has our best interests at heart for eternity (Romans 8:28). May we all find solace and contentment in confidently pursuing our purpose, knowing we can trust God (1 Timothy 6:6-10). 

Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV).

There are times when I actively pursue God with outstanding zeal and other seasons when I find my attention divided (Luke 10:38-42). Sometimes it is rooted in mistakenly erecting idols or spreading ourselves too thinly across many areas (1 Corinthians 10:14). We might find ourselves in a state of satisfaction where we immerse ourselves in the things of God but then allow elements of compromise to open the door to complacency. A certain degree of self-awareness helps greatly in cases like this. If we realize that our hearts are not all-in for God’s glory, we can at least acknowledge that change is needed (2 Corinthians 13:5). Otherwise, it is easy to continue to slip away from God. As any seasoned believer will tell you, only bad things can come from that. The last thing we can afford to concede is our intimacy with Jesus Christ (John 15:4-6).

In cases like these, we might also make the mistaken connection of thinking that our standing with God might improve based on our performance. In terms of salvation, this could not be further from the truth (Ephesians 2:8-9)! Likewise, if we do things for God, they should flow out of gratitude and transformation in our lives (Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:10). In other words, we know that God will not love us anymore or any less based on what we do. We cannot earn God’s grace (unmerited favor). By definition, it is something we do not deserve in the first place. Suffice it to say that we are inspired to do good works as a result of being believers, not to become saved or maintain our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:22-23).

Our world sidetracks us with many distractions that detract from our focus on eternity. We must remind ourselves and other loved ones that such endeavors may not effectively redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16-21). At times we tend to concentrate on the circumstances this world puts us in with greater attention than that which we extend toward God. Meanwhile, we should recognize God’s sovereignty and find our ultimate source of comfort, satisfaction, solutions, and rest in Him (Psalm 16:11). Instead, we tend to resort to our efforts to solve problems that often only serve to stress us out or instill worry in us concerning matters outside our control (Matthew 6:34). Furthermore, many of these issues that we blow out of proportion eventually prove less of a threat to our lives than we thought they would be.

Of course, I am not advocating that we settle into a pattern of passivity and fail to address the outstanding issues we must face. On the contrary, God wants us to be faithful and fearlessly seek His will in good and bad times. The key is to remember that God and His numerous provisions are available to us as we face these battles (2 Peter 1:3). Rather than attempting to handle something alone, we can follow God’s will and seek counsel from others who can offer wisdom on navigating the situation (Proverbs 11:14). Likewise, instead of worrying about our circumstances, we can pray to God and surrender our requests, concerns, and anxieties at His feet (1 Peter 5:7). Finally, we may need to exercise humility if personally stressed or on the verge of burnout. Sharing that information with our loved ones who God has surrounded us with and seeking His help and peace is crucial (Galatians 6:9-10).

Another issue that pops up on an alarming basis is the perception that one has tasted enough of God’s presence (Ecclesiastes 8:3). For instance, we may live in a toxic work environment or face countless worldly situations from one Sunday to the next. We might think that as long as we replenish ourselves with God’s Word for that Sunday service, we can handle a whole week without continuing to pursue God. Then we are caught off guard when we do not feel God’s presence as intimately and lack spiritual nourishment (Psalm 46:10). We need to recognize that a brief sermon is not sufficient to cope with the weight of this world across the span of a week.

As such, we must consider options such as surrounding ourselves with Christian fellowship, personal Bible study, involvement in a Church small group, and maintaining an active prayer life (Hebrews 10:25, 1 Chronicles 6:11). I am not saying all these things are necessary simultaneously. Still, in a general sense, they serve to edify you and those around you in extraordinary ways over time (1 Thessalonians 5:11-13). They also open the door for you to share your insight with other believers and allow you to serve God in the process.

One of the key takeaways from all this is to recall that it isn’t likely that we remain stationary in our walk with Jesus Christ. Instead, we walk toward Him or away from Him with every decision we make (Joshua 24:15). While we cannot lose our salvation through patterns of continuous, unrepentant sin, it should concern us if we are not observing sanctification in our lives overall (1 Thessalonians 4:3). It follows that our intimacy with Jesus Christ should be prioritized and could suffer if we fail to neglect such concerns. We must avoid compromise at all costs and draw nearer to God at every opportunity (Isaiah 55:6). Every decision tends to lead us closer or further away from God. We should set our sights on the significance of eternity in Heaven with Jesus Christ and recall how brief our life is by comparison (Psalm 144:4, James 4:14). As such, let us seek God and His will by actively pursuing a relationship with our Lord and Savior. After all, it is only in, with, and through Jesus Christ that we successfully do anything of eternal value.

We should often remind ourselves to thank God for everything, from the smallest of material blessings to the largest of spiritual ones (1 Corinthians 15:57). We should keep a firm grasp on the fact that with Jesus Christ, we have all we need (Romans 11:36). Additionally, we can still appreciate the alternative blessings that He lavishes upon us. Refrain from letting the allure of the world captivate you into thinking that it is exclusively fame, money, power, influence, or materialism that will provide happiness (Romans 12:2).

If we play the comparison game, we will always find that we do not stack up on some level, which breeds envy, jealousy, and discontentment (Ecclesiastes 4:4, James 4:2-3). Instead, we must remember that our value stems from our identity as God’s children (Ephesians 2:10, Genesis 1:27). Additionally, He saw it fit to bless you with eyesight, internet access, shelter, and leisure time to learn about God and His Word. If you are alive and reading this, it is clear you are among the most blessed people on earth!

Hopefully, you already know Jesus Christ, but if you are not yet a believer, God has inspired you to read this article. Perhaps He prompted your heart and sparked a curiosity that led you to visit this page today. Do not chalk this up to mere coincidence. Today is the day of salvation, and there is no better time than the present to acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior if you have not already done so (2 Corinthians 6:2). None of us should take for granted every day of mercy that God patiently provides for more people to come to saving faith through His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).

When I struggle through a difficult time, feel disappointed, frustrated, or otherwise find myself in a negative state of mind, I try to remember how fortunate I am. We live in an era of human history where most people live under better circumstances than the royalty of prior centuries. Yet, surprisingly, many of our most significant obstacles are often manufactured by excess indulgences, luxuries, instant gratification, and comfort. Therefore, we need to exercise discipline and self-control to avoid being consumed by these seductive pitfalls. Some things are a blessing as long as we practice moderation, but the minute we overdo it, those same blessings can become a problem (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).

For instance, we can enjoy eating to some degree. Still, the moment we step into gluttony, we know we do more harm than good (Ezekiel 16:49, Philippians 3:19, Proverbs 28:7). It is reasonable to seek a life partner one day that we may eventually marry. Still, if we obsess about a specific person or idolize the gift of marriage, we set ourselves up for a rude awakening. Any time we attempt to substitute the longings in our hearts to worship and draw closer to God with anything else, we will not find lasting joy or satisfaction.

Notice that both of these examples can be blessings from God if they are done His way, in His timing, to the extent He desires for us (1 Corinthians 10:31, Proverbs 18:22, Genesis 2:18). However, we must be aware that even intrinsically good things can be detrimental to us. It is the Creator that we must worship, not His creation. The appetites of the flesh, including the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, are insatiable. We must not cater to them, for they have the potential to consume us (1 John 2:16, Romans 6:23). Limited and finite things, even other human beings, cannot fill the void that only an unlimited, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God can (Psalm 16:11).

I encourage you to reflect and take inventory today about what you are thankful for and whether God remains your primary focus. As long as we keep our eyes on our Savior and immerse ourselves in His will, we will find that we will run the race of this life with perseverance (Hebrews 12:1). He gives us all we need to press forward and enjoy the journey (Philippians 4:19). Therefore, do not put yourself in a position where you look back on this life and fail to maximize the time for His glory (Ephesians 5:15-18, 1 Corinthians 10:31). God’s will for you is to immerse yourself in His purpose in light of His calling upon your life (Romans 8:28). Anything less is not living up to His will for you. Delight in God and derive satisfaction from fulfilling that mission (Psalm 37:4-7). It is only a matter of time before we reach the finish line on this side of Heaven and enjoy eternal life with Him (2 Timothy 4:7).

Elements of discomfort often form a basis for substantial progress in life. Have you ever examined the biographies of people who led successful lives? It particularly rings true for those who generated eternal value through serving God. They often share remarkably uncomfortable anecdotes of pasts riddled with struggles. Yet, instead of allowing such obstacles to derail their lives, they eventually persevered amid adversity with God’s provision (Philippians 4:13). Their difficulties appeared insurmountable. Still, God saw it fit to help them conquer the giants in their lives (1 Samuel 17:50-51). Some Biblical examples include the likes of King David, Job, Daniel, and the Apostle Paul, to name a few of my favorites.

All the glory related to resolving such situations points towards the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The only One who can make what is impossible in the sight of man possible despite all the odds firmly against it (Matthew 19:26). Furthermore, He can take what is meant for evil by our adversary and turn it around for good in ways we do not see coming. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, but God had a greater plan despite his hardship (Genesis 50:20). A whale swallowed Jonah. However, God decided his story was far from over (Jonah 2:10). The Israelites wandered the wilderness for roughly forty years (Joshua 5:6), but God provided for them in their distress and never abandoned them (Exodus 16:12). God’s people, including you and I, are often strategically placed in situations designed to lead us back to Him. Whether we understand it or not, we must concede to God’s will. Trust that His plans are infinitely superior to ours (Romans 8:28). If we faithfully surrender to His will above ours, it is only a matter of time before we reap the fruit of obedience (John 15:7-9).

The rigors of our unpredictable lives also form the contrast by which we can measure our numerous blessings. For instance, maybe you lost your job, struggled to find a new path forward for several months, and got dangerously close to burning through your entire emergency fund. Then, suddenly, God opens the door to that new employer, and you recover financially through that fresh opportunity. If this happened in my life, my gratitude for employment would be significantly greater than if everything had gone smoothly from the beginning (James 1:2-4). The newfound appreciation for a new workplace, and God’s role in finding me that unique position, would make me look at the same circumstances in an altogether different light (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Excess comfort can also breed laziness and complacency. If everything comes easy to us without a battle, we will fail to appreciate the magnitude of our blessing. No wonder those who become suddenly wealthy from such avenues as lottery winnings or inheritances often squander them (Luke 15:13-14). When someone lacks experience dealing with that wealth level and does not respect the degree of effort required to build it, the story, unfortunately, writes itself. Such situations require a great deal of prayer and wisdom if one is to be a good steward of such monetary responsibilities in the sight of God (Ecclesiastes 7:12).

Finally, for better or worse, discomfort can push us forward to our goals at an accelerated pace. It may also serve as a reminder of the urgency to do God’s work compared to circumstances that may not frequently highlight the scarcity of time. When we operate as if we have all the time in the world, we will not evangelize, disciple, or generally serve God with the same zeal (Romans 13:11). Alternatively, we would if we consistently recognized how fleeting life is (James 4:14).

God often reminds us of individual limitations through the reality of uncomfortable situations tied to extraordinary challenges. Thus we must turn to Him for help, and that continuous reliance will quickly eliminate any fable of self-perceived invincibility we may feel inclined to entertain (Psalm 39:4-6). Instead, humbly seeking God and submitting to His guidance is crucial. It will provide the ideal outcome for us with eternity in mind (James 4:6). Ultimately, many comforts and luxuries can be indulged in moderation when we know our priorities are in order (Ecclesiastes 9:7-9).

“25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Matthew 16:25 (NKJV).

When we pursue self-preservation, we do not reach the greatest return on investment in an eternal sense. Furthermore, albeit counter-intuitively, when we serve God, we deny ourselves temporal pleasures for a lasting sense of purpose and satisfaction here on earth as well. Once we develop a taste for accomplishing the will of God, we will no longer find the same joy elsewhere. We will see our old pet sins and idols for the fruitless and time-consuming nature they inherently possess. We will never regret denying ourselves earthly pleasures for eternal blessings (Luke 9:23, Romans 8:18). If the sacrifices we make are for better positioning ourselves to glorify God, we will eventually see the byproduct of those decisions.

It is entirely in God’s hands what aspect of His blessings we will enjoy here on earth and which others manifest themselves in Heaven forever (Luke 18:29-30). I would venture to say frequently the things worth pursuing involve calculated risks. If the reward is immediate and there is little to no sacrifice involved, it typically indicates that such endeavors are not worthy of our time. Therefore, we need to condition ourselves to think long-term concerning our choices. Our daily activities should serve a greater purpose down the road.

Of course, there is a time and place to enjoy God’s blessing of rest and seize opportunities to appreciate leisure activity (Matthew 11:28). However, the more significant portion of our time should question each action based on its merit from an eternal vantage point. It takes discipline and sacrifice to write a book, edit it, find an agent, pursue a traditional publisher, and bring it to market. While this process doesn’t happen overnight, you will see your work come to fruition if you stick with it. If the book has content that will lead others to Jesus Christ or encourage existing believers to further their walk, there is more than enough motivation to fuel your efforts (Acts 20:24, Matthew 28:19-20). This journey can bring a writer great satisfaction and joy, but it is undoubtedly not something even the best authors can do in a short time frame.

One noteworthy thing to consider is that we find our area of giftedness that we can apply to serve God before we embark on the journey. You may see me write a book, but you won’t see me pursue a singing career as a Christian music artist. These are both creative outlets that have the potential to honor and bring glory to God, but they are different skill sets. I know that I am not a skilled vocalist. Sometimes, it takes some honest introspection to come to terms with this, especially when your dream involves something you’re not naturally adept at. On the flip side, a good work ethic has a lot to do with it, so we don’t want to get prematurely discouraged and dismiss our potential. There is a possibility that if you stick with something you love for long enough, in due time, the practice will differentiate you as a tremendous talent. With that said, it helps a great deal to have some natural aptitude at what you commit your time to do.

Over the years, I have realized some people excel at their craft but do not get the chance to share it on a large platform. Meanwhile, others who are arguably inferior in their ability do so on a massive scale (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Therefore, I take comfort in serving God, whether it is in relative obscurity or with a worldwide audience. While my reach may be small, our God is infinitely vast. As long as I put in my side of the effort, which His grace empowers, He may decide to exalt me in terms of developing a broader audience.

There’s no shame in reaching out to a small number of people with the Gospel. If all an entire lifetime of my writings did was lead one person to come to saving faith, it would be 100% worthwhile. God may even delight specifically in observing my motivations do not revolve around achieving fame or monetary compensation above serving my Creator. Another possibility is that He is preparing me for that in the future. There are times God may decide to shape our character, teach us lessons, or equip us through experiences before our exaltation occurs (Matthew 23:11-12).

The last thing we should want to do is risk finding fame or fortune and losing our intimate relationship with God in the process. How often have we heard of stories where believers were not ready for the challenges of the platform they obtained? In a nutshell, we must truly desire to make less of ourselves and more of God before making that kind of transition (John 3:30). Otherwise, we may be exposed to pride or lose our identity amid people making a bigger deal about us than they should. We know that all the talents, gifts, and resources are all God’s. If we lose sight of that and our humility, it may prove a lethal combination and destroy the credibility of our ministry efforts (Proverbs 16:18).

In the end, we should keep our eyes on Jesus Christ and eternity to determine the appropriate short-term and long-term goals. If we desire to reflect Him in what we do, it will display itself in the majority of our actions (John 13:13-15). For instance, it’s not a good enough reason to pursue a relationship or marriage solely because you think it might make you happy or fill a void. Instead, we should determine if we glorify God more together with that person than if we remain single. Ask yourself if the person shares your values and encourages you to draw closer to God or pulls you further away from Him (“The Surpassing Goal: Marriage Lived for the Glory of God” by John Piper).

Another example may involve making a transition to a new career. You might want to question whether there are any ethical dilemmas associated with your new job. Is there anything in your potential new role that requires you to violate your Christian convictions? Another consideration revolves around the opportunity cost of the shift. Will you have less free time to dedicate to serving and ministry efforts that are a critical part of your goals? If you make a modest salary at a job that affords you the possibility of sowing seeds of the Gospel, you might want to think twice before you change career paths solely based on a higher salary, for instance. There are so many variables to consider that we need to assess them on a case-by-case basis accordingly. As such, it is critical to pray and rely on the multitude of counselors that God may have graciously surrounded us with for their input when appropriate (Proverbs 11:14).

Instead of making hasty decisions based on our emotions or even sound logic, bringing it to God in prayer is always an advisable course of action (James 1:5). Who knows how much trouble you might avoid and eternally valuable seeds you might be able to sow by simply making one more good choice and avoiding a bad one. Moreover, if we set apart some time to contemplate everything with God before making decisions, it can alter the course of our entire lives and our ability to do good works for God in the future.

However, no matter how much we pray and prepare, we are imperfect, and eventually, specific issues require a leap of faith (“What is a leap of faith?” GotQuestions.org). May God help us all as we take that leap with a desire to invest our lives in the things that matter. Let our motivations revolve around our Maker instead of maximizing personal pleasure or earthly gain. If He sees that His glory is our inspiration, I am confident that He will not allow us to stumble permanently (Proverbs 24:16). Instead, he will rescue us from pitfalls and provide ways of escape from temptation to help us navigate a better future as we learn to lean on Him perpetually (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

In other instances, the issue may be to come to terms with the loss of a loved one. There comes the point where after a season of grieving, we must accept that they have passed away and continue to live our lives (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Any setback we face, no matter how big or small it is in the eyes of others, may pose a significant problem to us. However, regardless of whether others understand our difficulty, we cannot allow anything to compromise the mission God has placed in our hearts to fulfill here on earth. It would be an injustice in the eyes of God to live indefinitely with a disposition of anger, bitterness, or grudge to the detriment of God’s plan for us (Ephesians 4:31-32). While we should never minimize our battles or belittle others, it is also a significant error and threat to our well-being to allow an unreasonable amount of time to elapse with this kind of mindset. Of course, this is a subjective matter, and we do well to consider it on a case-by-case basis. Preferably with a firm reliance on God, prayer, and His supernatural strength to help us overcome the circumstances at hand.

Thinking about the frailty of life encourages me to make sure I am in right standing with God and redeem the time accordingly (Ephesians 5:15-16). It may also provoke a sense of obligation in us to reach out to our loved ones with the truth of the Gospel (Matthew 28:16-20). While we cannot force anyone to come to saving faith, our responsibility to share God’s Word includes reaching out to family and friends, too, not only those that show up at our Churches on Sundays. Finally, if we acknowledge that time is scarce, it will give us that sense of urgency we desperately require to take action in terms of evangelism. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are indeed few (Matthew 9:35-38). Every effort we make for the glory of God, and the building of His Kingdom is crucial for us to pursue.

I find it helpful to remind myself to take breaks to step back from a constant cycle of works for God and enjoy leisure time. While it can be enriching to serve God consistently, we need to recognize our limitations and avoid burnout to be most effective. As such, no matter your calling, it is critical to get ample rest and have a firm understanding of what you can take on without overexerting. I love to write, but it even mentions specifically in God’s Word that, “In the writing of many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh (Ecclesiastes 12:12).” Suffice it to say that if we take care of ourselves and go back to diligently pursuing God’s plans, we will do much better. I, for one, had to learn this lesson the hard way, but I have since learned that I can do a great deal better in service to God by balancing this out according to my needs.

We all have varying strengths and weaknesses too, so this is often a matter of getting better acquainted with ourselves and essentially how God has wired us to operate. For example, you may thrive in getting up early, having a schedule set in stone, and working on a highly defined program. On the other hand, others of us may do better with setting daily priorities that we tackle in a less detailed approach as far as the timetable is concerned. Many people firmly believe that breakfast is the most critical meal of the day. Meanwhile, I skip breakfast daily and implement intermittent fasting with my workout routine. Due to these dynamics, there is no one size fits all approach to successfully managing our daily agenda.

In any case, depending on your line of work and particular responsibilities, this may not always be a luxury you can offer yourself. That said, you can better cope with your schedule when you know how you excel most of the time. Some employers may even be glad to adjust your hours if you make a good case for improving your productivity under certain conditions. In the end, I would suggest that you try to get to know yourself before you experience burnout, anxiety, or excessive stress. It is better to cross out a few items from your to-do list than to do them all and be out of commission for a while because you were overzealous.

In the fast-paced world, we live, it is easy to get caught up in the future at the expense of appreciating the present. That said, I am not knocking preparation for the future. On the contrary, I think that is a wise thing to do. Goals and plans on how to execute those goals, and having a rough idea of where you want to be 1, 3, 5, and 10 years from now makes perfect sense. It is good to have a general vision for the course of your life, yet always remain flexible to what surprises God may have in store for you. I refer to constantly thinking about what is coming overshadowing your enjoyment today (Matthew 6:34).

One practical way I employ to do this is to make it a point to minimize my phone use when I am around family and friends. I want to give them the gift of my attention and enjoy their company. This minor adjustment can make a huge difference, and your loved ones will take notice of it. Instagram and Facebook will be there tomorrow. I know I check them too often, but setting them aside when I work on writing, editing videos, and sleep has been a blessing to me for a while now. Instead of provoking myself to scroll endlessly, it helps me improve my focus and attention span. Not having my phone on my bedside or putting it in sleep mode, and being disciplined about not touching it, has enhanced the quality of my sleep. There is still a ton of room for me to improve in this one area, but I find these incremental adjustments work well.

It does not take revolutionary changes with extreme effort on an isolated day to improve your life. Instead of drastic adjustments, small changes in the right direction are less intimidating to implement. If you had never been hiking or mountain climbing, but someone told you that you would need to climb Mt. Everest in a week, you would probably find it amusing and dismiss it as a joke. Yet, some who have made it one of their life goals decided that reaching the apex would be a manageable challenge and completed that monumental task. To them, it was a matter of preparation for the future. They acclimated to that extreme by executing a series of more minor challenges that eventually prepared them to tackle it.

You and I may not care to climb Mt. Everest, but I know that each of us tends to have desires that are crucial for us to obtain. It could be anything, but it may involve personal fitness, career goals, or a desire to learn more about God’s Word, to name a few possibilities. These will not achieve themselves, so we need to plan to make these dreams a reality. They also necessitate a certain degree of desire that excels the pain or sacrifice involved with their achievement. For example, if I value my leisure to a fault, I may not be willing to make the sacrifices of going back to school or taking an extra training course to improve my career prospects. Likewise, I may want to lose weight and get into great shape, but if the reason for doing so isn’t adequately compelling, I will not get there.

Furthermore, once you get there, you need extra motivation to maintain that level of excellence. No matter what, preparation for the future is only helpful if we also have a plan to get there, a plan to stay there, and a reason for getting it done. Otherwise, it will go in the basket with all of the other New Year’s resolutions that we, and others, may have made but never executed. So, New Year’s resolutions or not, let this year be different and push hard until you achieve your breakthrough. Most importantly, make sure that breakthrough counts for the glory of God. If your goal does not offer eternal value, perhaps you should evaluate whether it is still worth making. Ask yourself, “Can I do X to the glory of God?” If not, maybe you would make better use of your time applying your efforts elsewhere (Colossians 3:23-24).

The first that comes to mind is probably the most obvious—simply redirecting our efforts with intentionality on matters and taking inventory. What is it that we could re-prioritize? Is there something that needs to be put on the back burner because there are more vital things to spend our time doing? These are the kinds of questions that should lead us back on the right track. If we don’t take some time, we may allow these outliers to become more central parts of our lives. What we barely spent any time doing before may encompass more and more of our attention over time. As our hobbies become habits, they come dangerously close to potentially destructive and addictive patterns of behavior. Such practices can cause seemingly harmless activities to detract from our relationship with Jesus Christ. Ideally, we catch ourselves before this stage of entanglement and redirect our efforts accordingly. Prayerfully seeking what God would have us shift our attention to would be a good start. It demonstrates that you have a desire and a willingness to make adjustments despite your current lifestyle choices. 

The second way that could be of practical use in this situation is incorporating Jesus Christ, evangelism, or some aspect of redeeming value into your hobby, leisure activity, or habit. For example, you might have an affinity for something such as traveling. I understand that everyone needs a way to cope with life’s stressors, and you may deserve a vacation by all means. However, if you feel convicted about not fulfilling the Great Commission in your life, perhaps you want to incorporate some of God’s vision for you into your next vacation. You don’t have to visit a remote village in the middle of nowhere to do this. Just about any holiday can become an evangelical journey if you desire to make it one. 

Even if you’re not ready to confront people face-to-face with the Gospel, you can hand out Gospel tracts or plant them in familiar places where people might stumble upon them. I’ve personally had the privilege of unexpected divine appointments in various places. It could be the person sitting next to you in flight, a waiter at a restaurant, or a random encounter in a taxi. There are endless opportunities to share the Word of God. They are frequently more receptive than you might think. I will not dive deep into evangelism strategies here in this article, especially since everyone has their unique approach to these situations. Still, I will say one thing: It’s often helpful to convict someone of their need for a Savior so their hearts will be receptive to the Gospel. Many assume they’re generally good people if they don’t understand our need for Jesus Christ and our fallen state as humans. Once they understand their sinfulness, they’ll be more likely to embrace the idea of needing Jesus Christ. If you stick to only head knowledge, they may not feel a conviction in their heart to make any significant change.

One recent, widespread time sink that many of us have been enveloped by is the state of politics in our country. There is a lot of division and widespread criticism coming from both sides of the aisle. I agree that there’s a place for discussing the views of those who hold power to legislate initiatives that impact my freedoms. However, I think we go overboard when our political activism outweighs our efforts to do God’s work. Instead of working on sowing seeds of division, we need to work on finding common ground. There are times where we need to find satisfaction in agreeing to disagree because we can’t win everyone over to our side. We all have different upbringings, educations, and political leanings, even amongst other believers. These factors will often shift our perspective in one direction over another because of our unique life experiences.

There is no need to emphasize Republican or Democratic principles over Biblical principles to guide our decision-making. Why look to the government for solutions when our rights are God-given? We should consider there is more value in winning souls for Jesus Christ than winning votes for our favorite candidate. I hope our country can heal from this because it’s clear that a kingdom divided within itself cannot stand. Find peace and comfort in God’s sovereignty. We know that whether we voted for President Biden or not, God allowed him to become president. At this point, it is our responsibility as Christians to pray for him, his cabinet, and everyone across both sides of the aisle in leadership to help steer our country in the right direction. Spreading hate, misinformation, slander, and so forth does not serve us well. It’s apparent to me that this applies to both Republicans and Democrats. Ultimately our destiny isn’t determined by those in power but rather by God Himself, who exalts and humbles people as He wills.

All of us will be better off if we consider these ideas. I realize not everyone can agree on politics, but those of us who love God and people have more meaningful ways to align peaceably with one another. Do you think those who have yet to come to saving faith are drawn closer to Jesus Christ when they see our passion for politics or Jesus Christ? Sometimes the most significant transformation comes from demonstrating our faith through obedience to God’s commands in our lives. The seemingly small actions compounding over the lifetime of a believer can prove more inspiring than a million sermons. 

Don’t forget that new brothers and sisters in the faith observe our actions and consider whether we’re walking the walk. I don’t know about you, but I have some work to do. I am sure we each have at least a few areas where we can stand to improve. Let’s all take inventory of our focus, time, and energy so we can direct them all to actions that bring God glory. It doesn’t have to be a life overhaul overnight. The small, incremental changes over a long time horizon can yield excellent fruit too. We need to prayerfully discover what works for us by following God’s lead and going from there. If we genuinely desire to honor, glorify, and acknowledge God, He will clarify how we should go about doing precisely that. There is no greater way to find long-term fulfillment than to fear God and obey His commandments. Everything else, by comparison, is vastly overrated. For instance, King Solomon tried to find satisfaction in all sorts of temporary distractions, but he rightfully concluded that they all led him to dead-end roads. Do not take my word for it, but instead contemplate what the Word of God says on the matter.

“13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.

14 For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NKJV)

May we all heed this sobering advice and live praiseworthy lives accordingly in the sight of God and man.