# goals: the hashtag we use to compliment our friends and inspire ourselves to bigger and better things. Just how dangerous can this hashtag be, though? That woman's body, that couple's wedding, that girl's hair, that family's home, that person's job and, ultimately, that human's life are all "goals."
There is nothing wrong with having goals in life. It's actually a great thing to have plans and dreams because that's what motivates us. Having goals propels us to work hard to reach them, and they generally keep us moving forward and being productive.
However, the problem with this all too common hashtag is that we are breeding jealousy and discontentment in our lives.
I hope I'm not the only one (I'm pretty sure I'm not), but when I comment the word "goals" on a friend's Instagram picture, I am not actually creating a goal for myself to work towards; I am simply saying, "I wish I was you." Not that I truly desire to be that person, but in that instant, I desire what they have.
In that moment, I am saying, "I don't believe that my body is beautiful how it is, and I will not be satisfied with myself until I look like this person."
In that moment, I am saying, "My relationship with my boyfriend isn't good enough. I will not be content until we take cute pictures, he buys me flowers every week, and we go on expensive and cool dates like that couple."
In that moment, I am saying, "I won't be perfectly happy with my home until it looks like a house off of 'Fixer Upper.'"
In that moment, I am saying, "My relationship with Christ isn't sufficient until I have been to as many Christian concerts as him, painted as many Bible verses as her, and been on as many mission trips as that person."
We say a whole lot with one simple hashtag, whether we realize it or not. It's subtle, but it's incredibly dangerous.
We spend so much time pursuing the things of this world. We will never be satisfied when we continuously chase after perishable things that we think will make us happy and appear to bring others joy. We must stop wishing for someone else's life and start living our own.
Even more dangerous than that is this: sometimes we strive to reach the same level of spirituality that our friends appear to have on social media or in even in person. I'm not saying every spiritual post on Facebook isn't genuine; it may be posted by someone with the purest heart and intentions. The problem is that our relationship with Christ is our own. I'm not saying we shouldn't share it. I'm saying that we shouldn't want to be on someone else's spiritual walk, especially when we typically get our information about their faith from the parts that they make public knowledge (which is typically the good parts). Every one of our journeys is unique. Don't make someone else's faith your "goals". Live the life God created for you. It's great to have a mentor and to look up to people. We need good examples, but don't let those role models become your idols. Aim to be like Jesus and no one else. It's not about how our faith looks to those around us. It's about loving God because He first loved us, enough to send His Son to die for us.
Hebrews 13:5 says, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” All we are guaranteed in life, is the ever presence of God our Father. Every thing else will perish. Let's be content in the life that God has for us. Let's be happy for our friends when God blesses them. Let's stop with the greed, jealousy and discontentment. Let's start appreciating the things we are given. Let's start finding joy in our own life and journey.
