Turn to God, But How?
One commitment I made to myself when starting this column is brutal honesty. I believe the world has plenty of superficial information to consume.
I’ve been struggling to find the words to express my level of despair. Watching the news coverage the last 4 days of Israel’s horrific terrorist attacks is not the best way to find a silver lining within the chaos of our world. I care deeply about the people of Israel.
Life is full of minor disappointments to massive devastations. It’s the piling on effect that makes it easy for the heart to become weighted down with compounding problems. From fires in Hawaii, earthquakes and flooding, to political family feuds wrecking lifelong relationships, to name a few. These are turbulent times.
This morning, I threw my hands up to God and asked, why bother? Does it matter if I publish my novel? Does anything we contribute matter?
The response was immediate. A firm reminder that this life is not about me and what I accomplish, it’s about fulfilling our purpose for God’s glory.
And What is Our Purpose?
It’s the same for all Christ’s followers. Jesus said it clearly in Mark 12:28-31…
“One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, of all the commandments, which is the most important? Jesus replied, The most important commandment is this: Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”
The last several months have been difficult and heavy. I’ve allowed personal disappointments and world events to overwhelm my heart. As a believer, bitterness and hopelessness are not options.
I heard a pastor say recently, “It’s okay, not to be okay.” I agree it is healthy to acknowledge and embrace our emotions for a while. But it’s not okay to stay there permanently.
Turn to God Diligently
During moments of great sadness, we must pursue God diligently. In all His glory, we find peace and solace from His strength and mercy.
“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” – Hebrews 12:2.
Since the beginning of time, the fight between good and evil existed. Floods, famines, pandemics, and wars took place. In the darkest times, God always prevailed and He will endure forever.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13
With my eyes fixed on Jesus and my heart realigned with God’s purpose, I move forward with a joyful and persistent attitude about this life. I can’t fix the hearts of others, but I can be the light of Christ and make a difference in the darkness.
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About the Author
Teresa Devine is former Fortune 500 Executive helping busy Christians amplify their spiritual growth and impact. She is the CEO of Teresa Devine Co. LLC and creator of 24/7 Purpose® Academy. Teresa is a 4x certified Christian coach. She is also a Christian writer, and professional Christian speaker.
As a floundering Christian for decades, Teresa searched for ways to foster Christian development. After coming up short, she created a proven method to help activate and amplify spiritual development for the busiest Christians.
Teresa has helped numerous people get unstuck and on track from folks in addiction recovery to Fortune 500 Company Executives and everyone in between.
Fabric of Faith promotes self-reflection aligned with practical ways to weave Christianity into daily life. With an emphasis on career and the workplace, Teresa brings a unique perspective as a former corporate executive you won’t want to miss.
To learn more, visit TeresaDevine.com.
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