So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:9–11
The other night, I had a terrible and exhausting dream. I was trying to catch a flight back to visit Israel and was running late. I rushed through security. I lost my carry-on bag, took a wrong turn in a hallway, and somehow ended up outside the airport.
I found myself on random streets, climbing walls, and even running across the grass roofs of houses. (You know how crazy dreams can be!) I needed to find Terminal A. My flight was leaving at 9:00 p.m., and my watch seemed stuck at 8:58, so I kept going—I needed to find my gate! I was exhausted—yet I pushed on. In my panic, I managed to lose my purse, phone, and even my shoes. I kept running until I looked down and saw it was 9:15. My flight was gone. I was exhausted. I was alone. I had no ID, no phone, no money and weirdly…no shoes. I could only remember one number and so I borrowed the phone of a stranger and dialed it. No one answered. I was devastated.
Then I woke up.
It was 4:00 AM. I was safe in my bed. I whispered to God, “Thank You. Help me never forget the great purpose You’ve given me. Make my life meaningful for Your glory!”
The truth is, sometimes life feels exactly like that dream. We rush. We strive. We try to accomplish everything on our own strength. We forget the purpose God gave us: to glorify Him and to make disciples. We lose sight of Him and become frantic and overwhelmed, thinking we’ve missed our chance. All of our work seems to be without purpose or satisfaction.
But God has never intended for His children to live exhausted and defeated.
After we are born again, we aren’t rats racing in circles. We are redeemed people, created in His image, designed for a glorious purpose—to shine His light into the world.
But we cannot fulfill God’s mission—without God.
We must seek God first and lay everything—our time, our talents, our dreams, our entire lives—at His feet. We must stop trying to do life on our own and must stay in constant contact with God. When every mission belongs to God—then every obstacle belongs to Him. He will guide us, and He will give us His wisdom and power to accomplish all things in His time.
When our life 100% belongs to God…real greatness happens.
Jesus said:
Therefore do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:31, 33-34
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14–16
Father, forgive me for the times I run without You, trying to live on my own strength. Teach me to stay close to You. Help me to remember the purpose You’ve given me—to glorify You and make disciple makers. I surrender everything I have and everything I am to You. Use my life for Your glory, Lord. Let me never forget that without You, everything is vanity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Question:
Are you trying to fulfill God’s purpose in your own strength—or are you daily seeking His presence and His guidance?
One Response
We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.