What if you missed God’s purpose to your life because you were too busy chasing an illusion today’s culture gives you…
In Fine Fettle readers it’s me again, Claire (just in case you forgot). I know it’s been awhile but surely you’re not surprised by now.
Life is funny, ya know… how quickly it goes from singing to weeping, loving to hating, from peace to war. If I have learned anything these past few weeks it is how quickly life can change and it’s been feeling pretty bittersweet lately.
This past Thursday my mom had a fairly routine surgery to remove a cyst (18-19 pounds) on her ovaries, which praise God went well! Following the procedure, the surgeon took me back to a room to update me on how everything went and let me just tell you that life got REAL, real fast.
As I did some reflecting over my life and my current emotional state I realized that a lot of things just seem to be in the unknown again.
They took a biopsy of her ovaries and we come back next week to find out the results and then this Wednesday I will begin my final 4 months of nursing school.
Meaningless! Meaningless!
… Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.
What do people gain from all their labors… generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the South and turns to the North; round and round it goes, ever returning to its course.
All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full… the eye never has enough of seeing nor the ear its fill of hearing.
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun… No one remembers the former generations and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
This passage was written by a man named Solomon, a man that you would look at and think, “Wow, he has it all.” He had all the wisdom, power, honor, riches, a good reputation and most of all, God’s favor upon him yet he was still left feeling empty… like his life was, “meaningless.”
Sometimes I feel I work so hard, do the little things, stay consistent stay motivated yet things don’t add up and the results aren’t satisfying.
I realized these past few weeks that somewhere along the lines sin had made a way into my heart and I too have fallen into this trap we like to call, chasing after the wind. With my social media, in my classes, at work, with my body, it’s even followed me in my relationships.
I looked around and realized everyone is competing and everyone is determining where they are based on where everyone else is but this too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 4:4
I wanted more… more time, more followers, more money and I wanted better. I wanted to better myself and I wanted the people around me to be better too. I wanted what “she” had, what “they” had and I wanted it to come easier.
And it’s sad really, that it took a lonely room… with some surgeon… and my moms hospital bed to realize it.
It took a simple pause in time, a silence of all the noise this world plays for us (telling us we must keep listening t so we can fit in, stay up to date on all the trends, so we can be…. happy) to realize that if I keep chasing these things I will only ever end up more exhausted, more empty and even more disappointed.
Chasing always leaves us wanting more guys but let me let you in on a little secret… you ready? Less is more when the less you hold is what you were created for.
Go ahead, read that again… Less is more when the less you hold is what you were created for.
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgement including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil
Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14
I would highly recommend reading the entire book of Ecclesiastes, for I know this post did not nearly do the book justice; however, in summary Solomon tells us that we should find enjoyment in life but not in exempt from obeying God’s commandments.
He reminds us that we cannot find purpose or meaning in this life through human endeavors but rather if we just search for God (every day, every hour), He will SHOW us what to do… where to go.
The only thing we need in this life isn’t more money, a bigger house, better body and better relationships but only contemptment in God himself. Less is more when that less you hold is what you were created for…
Some many times we make having a relationship with God all too difficult and complicated too. He just wants you… He wants your attention, your time, your goals and ambition. Brothers, sisters, He just wants your heart.
There will come a day were each one of us will stand before him to be judged by our actions so to go about living properly we know that…
- Your human effort and my human effort apart from God is futile.
- You must put God first in your life and seek Him above all things.
- You must learn to receive everything good as a gift from God.
- You must know that God gives you enjoyment and peace in this world FREELY… all you must do is accept the gift.
With having a few major life events coming my way, college graduation and my moms test results, the future still feels exciting but also a little nerve recking as to having no idea what the next chapter of life holds for me, for my family.
A heart at peace gives life to the body but ENVY rots the bones.
John 14
I am choosing to believe God has something bigger planned, even in the unkown. I am choosing to believe that my God is faithful and He is a God of love, peace, gentleness, kindness, compassion and sincerity. No matter what the future holds I know where ever I go I will never be alone and with God comes peace.
Child, you will never be who you are called to be as long as you are looking over your should at anyone else because that energy that it takes for you to look to the right or to the left is the energy God gave you to do His will.
Look to others for inspiration NOT for imitation. Count your blessings and not your neighbors.
Sending each of you my love and praying that this post can be a blessing to you who read it.
Until next time.
xoxo,
Claire Idelle ♡
InFineFettle 