The Heart of the Matter

So often I look at my life as unsuccessful. Unimportant even. But what is the true measure of success? The true measure of importance? So many people I grew up with are all over the place now. Life happened. Desires that lay within their hearts consumed them. Hurt, frustrations, and simply just another standard of living slows their pace and the dreams and goals they once had are distant memories. You can see it in their faces. Hear it in their voices. The longing for more, but no means to get there.

I would have been there, too. I feel the pull everyday. To stop striving for more, to settle for less than, to give up. I realize the power of Jesus Christ in my life to change me, strengthen me and empower me. It's really not me when you see goodness in my life. It's the God in me. My hope, my salvation, my life. It all belongs to Him. And once you get down to the heart of the matter, He's all that really matters. If it were up to me, I'd be chasing after the things that are fleeting. But God has shown me to store up things that are everlasting. This is why I dedicate my life to Him. Without Him, there would be no me, no life, nothing good to speak of. I'd probably have a kid right now, depressed, caught up in some drama, blaming everyone else for my problems. This isn't to say that everyone who has these issues should be judged. This is to say that Christ saved me from myself. I would have done something that wasn't in God's plan for me to do and ended up going where I shouldn't have gone.

Despite it's difficulties and challenges my life is worth living. There are so many things for me to do and achieve. I am forever grateful that my eyes were opened to the other option. Where would I be without your grace, God?