20 Dec It’s Not About You

I know, the title of this post probably doesn’t sound like the most cheery post for the holiday season. But it’s a post that I have wanted to write for quite a while now. Over the past few years, I have written on similar topics: it’s not about a baby and it’s not about me.

But the topic of this post? It’s not about you. None of this life is about you. Yet so many of us act or think this life should be all about us.

When you became a Christian, you made the decision to hand your life over to God and live for him. That was the point. It was all about denying yourself to make his name great, which is what Mark 8:34 says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  Your life, purpose and identity should always been found in Christ. All throughout scripture, Jesus reminds us of this truth.

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:7-11

But when you try to make it about you? You are going to be disappointed. You are going to be let down. You are going to live day-to-day, merely just trying to survive. And you are going to be hopeless.

The trials. The waiting. The hardships. If you make it about you, then you will be miserable, often catching yourself stuck in a pity-party.

And when you make it about him? Everything will shift. Instead of finding your purpose in what you have, you will find contentment in who he is. Instead of seeing your wait as a delay you will see it as an opportunity. Instead of viewing your trials as unfair, you will view them as a gift. Instead of getting jealous when people pass you, you will take delight in cheering them on. Instead of letting your circumstances dictate and control you, you will let the truth control you. Instead of walking through life bitter, hopeless and angry, you will dance through each day with joy, peace and strength.

This post? It might not seem cheery for the holiday season, but let me also remind you that Jesus didn’t come to this earth to make you happy; he came to this earth to make his great name known and to refine you to look more like him. But back to this holiday season – the whole reason for the season is Jesus, right? Which means this post couldn’t be any more fitting. Friends, remember during Christmas and each and everyday throughout the year, it’s all about him. It always was and always will be. Unless of course, you make it about you.

You might have previously declared that you want your life to be all about him, but are you truly living that way? How do you spend your time? What about your thoughts and actions? Do they line up to be more about you or more about him?

PS. If you are going through infertility, please head over to join a faith-based support group I founded, Moms in the Making!

PPS. Have you picked up a copy of my book? Buy In Due Time, a 60-day devotional for hope + encouragement in the waiting.

PPPS. I created a group on facebook as an extension of my book + blog to discuss anything + everything. Women only! Come join us!

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