Have you ever found yourself plugging in your headphones, heading to your playlist, and pressing “shuffle” over and over even though you know exactly what song you want? I did the same just yesterday. I knew I wanted “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas but instead of just scrolling down and clicking on that particular song, I mindlessly shuffled the list until I finally hit it. Why???
I think we do this to ourselves. What we need can be right in front of us–and here we are, making things harder than they should be, hitting shuffle when we could just get right to the point, when we could have that one thing we’re missing. Something in us just won’t let us do it.
Isn’t this like our relationship with God? He offers us so much, at no cost. Here’s just a few of the things we could have if only we would let ourselves…
Calm and safety: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” -Psalm 23:1-2
Constance: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” -James 1:17
Strength: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10
Protection: “My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior– from violent people you save me.” -2 Samuel 22:3
And literally anything else you could possibly need: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:19
If only we would stop chasing after worldly things. If only we’d stop striving for that status, for the approval of a person or group of people, to not only be included but lifted up, to be known, to have achieved this crazy high level of success–if only we could see what really matters. That no success here on earth can equate to a success in God’s eyes–to a live lived out of love.
We have all we need right in front of us–Jesus. When He died for us, He said, “It is finished,” and it is. So stop pushing things, stop looking elsewhere, stop testing your luck. It’s already been done. You’re good. You’re saved, you’re forgiven, you’re loved. Take a moment to be satisfied where you are.
Stop hitting shuffle and chasing after those earthly things. It’s just a waste of time, and chances are, with a playlist as big as the one this world has to offer you, you’ll never land where you want to be just aimlessly, repeatedly pressing that button. Be direct. Pursue love, happiness, faith, honesty, grace…in other words, GOD–no matter where you are, who you are, what you’re going through. These are the things that will get you where you right where you need to be.
