Last night, I watched the founder of Elevation Church, Steven Furtick – on TBN share from his new book, Unqualified, how we mistaking set incorrect goals or view destiny or our call as a “project” to be achieved, but it is actually a process. God wants us to know Him and keep knowing Him.
This really helped me as I was seeking God on what was next after “achieving” my bucket list goal of returning back to India. My problem was that was the only thing on my list. So I quickly went from an overflowing joy of victory to emptiness and was without future direction.
As I prayed, God told me just to keep going, to go deeper, to search more, to keep following, keep loving Him and serving Him. Obvious, right?
Well, this morning, I better understand as He reminded me that my walk is not about where I’m going but who I’m walking with, Jesus and my relationship with Him. The goal is the journey, and the journey is the relationship. So the goal is to get to know him and keep knowing Him, keep making Him known…I am also to REST in that journey… to enjoy the process. Each goal is like a train stop, but not the end of the ride. I am to not focus on where I’m going so much as I am to enjoy His presence in every experience.
It’s a guided tour. God had previously taught me through my former dog, Maxine, that I needed to be more like her… she just loved to ride with me and never worried about where we were going…Just happy and grateful to be going with me …and that I needed to just relax and just let Him drive, after all…He knows where He’s going and He’ll ensure that I make all the right stops because He’s ordered my steps according to His plan for my life! I needed to be reminded of all this.
So, what now? What’s next? He just wants me to keep Loving on Him, Learning from Him and Looking for Him. He is everywhere and in everything. Inexhaustible!
So it’s OK to feel like you keep starting all over after each stop. How else can you continue unless you start the train again? Each stop is a new adventure…a new lesson in Christ…A new growth opportunity…to become more like Him, to better understand Him, to better obey and trust Him…We are to enjoy the scenery, but even more so, enjoy our travel guide!
Ironically, I was feeling like a failure after each, “achievement ” or satisfied goal because I then realized I’m STILL not “done” yet and I’m not totally free from my performance-based upbringing… I thought the goal was to be done, but the goal is simply to keep going…Until I see Him face to face.
I think for my 60th birthday, I’ll take a long multi-stop train ride with Jesus and reflect on my 60-year journey thus far and look with anticipation to where He takes me next!
Wait…I hear a whistle blowing…Time to go…All Aboard!!!