I’ve always been hyper-focused and hyper-active – like my whole life – so I consider my dad to be an expert in understanding my ways – both the strengths and the shortfalls. It’s really important for all of us to have at least one person (if not more) who knows us deeply and truly cares for us anyway, for the long-haul. I’m very privileged and thankful to have such a great relationship with my dad.
Anyway, I was expressing frustration about some goals I’m working toward that don’t seem to be getting closer…and how it makes me feel alarmed & panicky inside. He said:
“Few of us have the patience to let things develop naturally, because we want to make things happen.”
For me this comes back to a deep-seated driver in me that’s good….but it often ends-up taking the reins out of God’s Hands and it becomes an inner slave-master. Western individualistic society has created the notion that much of our worth as humans comes from our accomplishments. “I want to make my life count,” and “I want to make a big difference” are mantras I’ve been telling myself since I was doing lame skateboard tricks in my parent’s driveway. I believed that if I could “do great things” in my future as a man, then that would make me great. Although my spirit and mind and body have come a long way since those childhood dreams, I think my heart still believes them. Don’t get me wrong, we were made to be productive and innovative; but not as a means to attain worth. Rather, our identity is to be found in our relationship with God primarily, and with others in His world But it’s hard to get away from the barrage of other self-worth messages all around us, which are most-often designed to make us feel like we need to buy something. We would do well to keep our focus on Master Jesus, set our hearts on faithfulness rather than results, and releasing our grasp on things we cling to in order to feel good about ourselves.
Micah 6:8 says:
“He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.”
Thanks, dad, for the reminder.
