What’s the Point?

Have you ever had the thought, “Is this all that life is?” I believe that this is one of the deepest thoughts that we can think to ourselves. As humans we desire purpose, meaning, truth, and identity. I remember when I was 20 years old and had that deep thought for the first time. At this time in my life I achieved all of my big goals and dreams. And I remember sitting on my kitchen floor in my New York City apartment crying and feeling the most empty I have ever felt. As awful as it was to feel what I did in that moment, I am grateful that God let me experience it. Because that was the first time in my life that I knew that there had to be more to life than what I was chasing after. 

Friends, I am here to give you hope and share that everything you are trying to find meaning in you won’t find it there. I don’t know what that is for you. It could be your career, fame, money, travel, athletic goals, materialistic items, etc. Everything in our world that you are trying to find meaning or satisfaction in that is apart from Jesus is just temporary. But in Jesus you will find meaning, purpose, and truth. Not only do we receive eternal life when we give our life to Jesus but when we live in Him and live by His ways it will give us life! It not only stops there, as believers what we do now has meaning and purpose because when we are living by His spirit and producing fruit in our lives that will pass down to the next generation until eternity. God’s will for our lives are to love Him and love others. We were made to be in relationship with Him and to glorify Him in all we do and say so it will point others to Him. That is the point of life. This way, His way, is where you will find true meaning that will leave you feeling satisfied and not empty. 

I love what Paul writes to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians Chapter 13, “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”

This scripture hits me so much because I am a very goal oriented person. I love making goals for myself, especially athletic goals. Currently I have the goal to increase my speed and run a half marathon or full marathon one day. I’m not here to say that goals are bad. I believe that goals set with God and that you will walk through with God are great! But, I also believe it is important to know deep in your soul that at the end of the day if what you set your mind to is not done with love to glorify God or in love to help others it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day when you achieve your dream job, finally hit your financial goal, or get to travel the world if you don’t have the love of God and His truth as your anchor you will have gained nothing.

I will be the first to admit that I have to check myself daily whether what I am living for is for God or for my own ambition. But because of God’s love and grace for me He catches me when I fall and leads me back to Him. I encourage you to ask yourself the honest questions, “Am I actually fulfilled in my soul? Am I struggling to find meaning in the current life I live?” These are hard questions to sit with if you answer truthfully. But I pray that you know that there is hope! Everything you are striving for or searching for is found in Jesus.

-Shara