“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, said the
lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah
55:8
If I have learned anything from
my first year of halfway being in the real world at college, I have learned how
easy it is to focus on myself. Everyone is constantly worrying about being
successful and making a difference, myself included. Actually just before I sat
down to write this, I took a nap and had a dream that I wasn’t involved enough
around campus to be successful!
I have also learned that, debatably,
being seen as a Christian (going to church, posting scripture on Facebook,
etc.) often fits into the narrative society draws of a well-rounded, successful
individual. I do not think this is bad; it definitely encourages more people to
be in spaces that glorify God. However, the reason we go to church and identify
as Christians is to seek a relationship with God, not to make other people think we have our life together.
We are not called to worry about
if other people think we are impressive, and we are not even called to worry
about what our lives will look like in ten years. As Luke 10:27 says, we are
called to love the LORD our God with
all our heart, all our soul, all our strength, and all our mind and to Love our
neighbors as ourselves. Furthermore, we are called to stop worrying!
God
is capable of far more than we can wrap our minds around, so why worry? Seek a
relationship with Him because you love Him, not because you live in constant
fear of how you are perceived. Once you know Him, it will be so much easier to
worry less, to focus less on yourself, and to give more of yourself to others. The
love of Jesus Christ lives in each and every one of us; living out that love is
the only place our focus should be.
