Take a moment and picture the kind of future that you dream of having, the perfect one you are always comparing life to. Be honest. What does it look like?
If I'm being honest, I never saw Africa coming. My plans for the future were pretty simple; finish school, travel, settle down, raise a family, and live out my life with the people I love. Pretty ordinary expectations, and ones that would get completely thrown out as soon as I began to see what life was really about. Very quickly, I started sifting through what my life could be instead of what I'd thought it would be. Suddenly, it was no longer about seeing my dreams come true but standing alongside others as they birthed their own. It became about being faithful with everything I'd been given, and expecting it to look different than a life focused on self-satisfaction. I knew that I didn't want to get to the end of my life and look around and see all of the ones who were counting on me, disappointed and neglected. And as I began to think about all that I could do, I realized I was responsible. No, I was never meant to live a life focused on my own satisfaction, and I would never be content with my own accomplishments. Because the truth is, life is about so much more than what makes us happy and we should never settle for just our own accomplishments. God has so much in store for us. It was obvious as soon as I understood, I wanted what God had for me more than anything. Nothing would compare to His great plans for my life, ones that I could be sure would reach through the impossible and touch the heart of the Father. With this realization came a shift in my thoughts, and the future became about the "who", instead of about me. Who would He send me to? Who would I be responsible for? Who would I get to listen to, stand by, and pray for? Who would I get to live life with? Who would I get to cry and laugh with? Who would I be fighting with? Who would I get to see the seed planted in. Who would I get to see it grow in. Who would I get to see produce fruit? Who would I empower? Who would I give to, my life, my time, my finances, my love, my Jesus?
I want to challenge you. Not because I think I have it all figured out, but because I know God does. Don't live your life without asking the hard questions. A great one to start with is, "why not me?" God has more planned for your life than you know. Don't be afraid to go after it!
We are wrong to assume life is about us. It isn't. Instead it's about a Father and His great plan for the earth to know His image and glory. We are His plan, so that the whole earth might know Him and proclaim His glory. It's about redemption, love, hope, justice, and victory. Do you plan on being a part of it? Or do you think you have a better plan?
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