In our fast-paced world, we are always reaching for something.
Reaching for significance.
Reaching for success.
Reaching for position.
Reaching for love.
All of these things are good. But I have found myself asking this question: Am I reaching for the One who can give me everything that I desire?
I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. (Philippians 3:12 Message)
I go through seasons in my life where I become comfortable with the current state of my heart, comfortable with where I have “arrived”. And in those times, I forget to reach. I forget to lay hold of that which is yet to be. I forget to strive for the greater potential. When I find myself here in this place, I must call it for what it is — complacency.
Complacency: a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements.
Uncritical satisfaction. It’s not striving for the greater good, forgetting that God has so much more for me. Or maybe I just become lazy. It’s too hard to reach. Too hard to pull on the potential of heaven and bring it into my own reality. In this place, I have become satisfied with my life — my family, my ministry, my relationships. I am literally wasting my life away, content to be where I am without going forward. As I curl up on the couch in my comfy sweats with my chocolate and coffee, I forget that God has called me for so much more than this. It is not His desire that I live to survive. He has called me to thrive. He has called me to live a life of abundance.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)
The enemy of our souls’ purpose is that we would waste our lives away on those things that are of no eternal value. He does not desire that we walk in the abundant life that Christ paid for. Everywhere I look, people are wasting their lives away on something — careers, relationships, social media, hobbies. Although these things are good, they are only momentary pleasures. When we become content and satisfied with what we have, we forget to reach and ask God for more.
How is your reach? Are you pulling on heaven and asking God for the fullness of what He has for you today?
By Barbie at My Freshly Brewed Life.
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I agree – I go through periods of “reaching” — then I get “there” and it scares me. What if He requires too much. So I stop reaching, then I get where I want more of Him and reach again.
I am constantly reaching for more of Him..scared of what He may ask of me. I reach/desire His will for my life both in work & home.
Struggling now with work issues, but praying for His will & guidance.
Hi friend! I am currently in the season of wanting to not just survive, but thrive. I am trying to move from my “Weary” self – to be fixated completely on the hope giving lifeline of Jesus. It is a daily process.
Thank you for the reminder – He came to give me that abundant life.
Barbie, this line hits me right between the eyes: “Too hard to pull on the potential of heaven and bring it into my own reality. ” I’ve been hit from many sides lately with the command, “You do not have, because you do not ask.” I think God is telling me I need to spend more time on my knees! Thank you for this today!!
I am not satisfied with where I’m at spiritually, and I am trying every day to grow closer to Him. When that struggle is over, I’m sure there will be another struggle to get through. We are never in a perfect place, but always striving.
i so needed this today barbie! i needed the reminder to pull on heaven asking God for the fullness He intended for me. thank you for speaking to my heart!
I have found that reaching for what God has for me is such a personal journey, one that others around me do not always understand or appreciate it as they look at it through human lens, and not with eyes of faith.
Barbie, this is fantastically true, challenging, and encouraging. Thank you!
Beautiful, convicting post, Barbie. I’m starting to realize that being stagnant and being comfortable go hand-in-hand. Pretty soon we become lukewarm and we all know what God wants to do with us then…
Thank you for reminding me to keep reaching!
All for Him,
Nikki
Very convicting post, Barbie. Great job getting me to think this beautiful Friday afternoon. 🙂 I’m very much in a season of knowing God has something specific He wants me to pursue, I just haven’t fully been able to discern His message yet. But I’m getting there. I know one thing, He does NOT want me to be complacent. And I’m so glad about that because it’s just not who I am as a person.
Blessings to you dear friend!
~Rosann
i find that often the times when i reach for God the most are when trials come. i wish this wasn’t the case, but when i am in a place where so much is going right i find myself getting complacent and lazy at pursuing Him who gives me life.
it makes me think of the song by sarah mcmillan – treasure. the second verse says, “all that i’ve seen with my eyes, and all that i’ve found in my life, it’s You i must possess. i am craving more time with You, if breaking my heart will do, i say break it over and over again. and above all else give me Jesus, above the rest give to me the One my heart loves!” i want to seek Him in the good times and in the trying times and have my heart reach for Him above all else!
my recent post: how to climb out of the emotional pit
Hi Barbie,
Once again, the Lord has us thinking along the same lines! The topic of apathy and complacency has been on my mind for the past couple of months. At times it seems easy to say “I’m good where I am” and not keep reaching for more of Him. Maybe it starts when we’re tired, overworked, overwhelmed, afraid of how far outside our comfort zone He might take us, etc., then it becomes the norm.
Thank you for this reminder! I want to keep reaching for more of Him and wherever He wants to lead me!
In Christ,
Laura
Thanks, Barbie, for the reminder that we are to always seek Him and not what is temporal. So grateful that He wants to give us abundant life.
Thanks, Barbie, for putting into words what my heart’s been struggling with the last little while, well longer than a little while. Complacency. That stuck in the middle of the road, not knowing where to go kind of complacency. Your post may just be the get me off the high mark push I need!
Thank you for this post..it convicted my heart.Thank you Father God for reminding me again and again.
Well timed, Barbie. It’s so easy to get caught up in priorities other than God’s. Thanks for the great post.