"Look for yourself and you will find loneliness and despair. But look for Christ and you will find Him and everything else." -C.S. Lewis
There is loneliness, emptiness and despair; there is everything else. We are given so many messages in the media about "finding ourselves". .
I've always loved the reminder from Tolkien, "Not all who wander are lost." It suggests embracing and enjoying where you are right now. Choosing to be content is a powerful choice
C.S. Lewis states in seeking to find ourselves, we find sadness and sorrow. When we seek out Christ, we find everything else. Motivation shifts from what pleases us to what pleases Him. Our desires change. Goals change. Seeking to see what He sees changes everything.
Jesus was never too busy. He paused to heal the lepers, but only one of of the ten came back to say, "thank you". He paused to embrace grieving mothers and fathers and healed their children. He healed the Centurion's servant, a man most would believe to be an enemy of Christ. He poured himself out with a gentleness and strength. To love like Jesus we actually are called to "lose ourselves".
"If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." -Matthew 10:33
What a challenge! Somehow, in the act of "giving up our lives", we find hope, peace, contentment, joy, laughter and purpose. Things of the earth will pass away. Ashes to ashes and dust to dust, but life in Him is full. Life can be frightening, but we can be fearless in Him. He is our strength and courage. We are just passing through this world, and it is a pretty quick trip.
We don't need to "find ourselves" when we come to realize that we are already treasured children of the Father. Don't misunderstand. I am seriously flawed. Imperfect by human birth, but in Him, I don't have to feel lost and alone. He loves us where we are and longs for us to walk closer to His heart... until it is as natural as breathing to know what He desires of us. It brings me to one of my favorite verses about what the Lord requires of us:
"No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." -Micah 6:8
Seek first the Kingdom of God and everything else falls into place.
Today, I am grateful for the "everything else".
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