Advice – Page 20 – The Will to Wake Up

Never Too Late for Prayer

Is there ever a time when prayer won’t help?

I’ll admit it: I often underestimate the power of prayer.

When a tough situation comes up that I have no control over, I get upset that “all I can do” is pray, when in reality, prayer is the most powerful weapon we have against the brokenness in our world. Certainly we should take action when opportunity allows, but prayer should be our first priority.

This evening, my family said goodbye to an elderly family member over the phone. This side of my family hasn’t accepted Jesus, and at this point, it feels hopeless. What’s the point in praying for them when they are reaching the end of their lives? What can Jesus do when they can’t even talk or move anymore?

But something I must remind myself is that we should never underestimate the power of prayer. Jesus can do anything, right? Even turn a hopeless situation around.

But when things don’t go the way we pray, it’s easy to lose faith that prayer even works.

Jesus doesn’t promise us that our prayers will be answered the way we hoped, but He does promise that it will make a difference. Every prayer counts, even when it’s our last resort.

To our last breath, Jesus pursues us. If you are being faced with an impossible situation or a person you feel tired of praying for, remember that your efforts are helping. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us so that God hears our every prayer. He listens to us no matter what.

It’s never too late to pray. We never truly know all that Jesus is doing in the hearts of those we love. Remember: He loves them even more than we ever could. ❤

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27

Celebrating the Prince of Peace

How are you longing for peace this Christmas?

I hope you are having a very merry Christmas!

No matter how you are feeling today, I’m sure we are all longing for peace. The funny thing is, while Christmas celebrates the birth of the Prince of Peace (aka Jesus), Christmas has become a chaotic time.

We are searching for peace after endless shopping and crazy spending.

We are searching for peace when our mind tells us we aren’t good enough or happy enough to fully appreciate Christmas.

We are searching for peace when we are running from one activity to the next, hoping that finally things will click and feel like the “most wonderful time of the year”.

We are searching for peace when we are missing a loved one who made Christmas magical.

How are you searching for peace this Christmas?

To be honest, I’ve been giving that question a lot of thought recently. While I’ve been able to heal and restart over my holiday break, I’ve had trouble truly feeling the “Christmas spirit” this year. It feels like something is missing.

I’ve wracked my brain over and over again, trying to figure out what that missing piece could be. Sure, some traditions haven’t happened and I haven’t been able to see family this year. But that doesn’t seem to be it.

The Christmas season flew by in the blink of an eye. It feels like sand slipping through my fingers. Little bits of magic just out of grasp.

What is that void? Lacking peace. Fearing the world after Christmas.

I’ve been reading through the book of Luke, and one of Jesus’ remarks caught my eye. As He is riding through Jerusalem shortly before His death, He expresses sorrow for the crowd.

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.”
Luke 19:41-42

Though He’s speaking to the Israelites in this passage, I believe this lament is applicable to us today. That gap in our hearts is a longing for peace, the peace that only Jesus can bring.

And the thing is, we can know Jesus and love Jesus and fully understand the true meaning of Christmas, yet still lack peace. It’s not until we accept that peace can only come from Jesus that we begin to experience inner healing.

Peace is an unexplainable thing. By definition, peace is “harmony, tranquility, and freedom from oppressive thoughts or emotions” (Merriam Webster Dictionary).

We are lacking peace because we are being oppressed by our destructive thought patterns, the trauma of living through the pandemic and all the unique trials of the past two years (or longer), and the utter state of brokenness in our world.

How can we have peace amidst all of this? How can we hold onto the true miracle of Christmas once the presents are unwrapped and the tree is taken down?

We can immerse ourselves in God’s word. We can ask God for healing. We can close our eyes and take a moment to simply breathe.

Allow peace to become a regular part of your life. Cherish the moments of stillness and accept that being still doesn’t mean you are weak, but rather that you care about yourself and others enough to appreciate the gift of quiet.

I hope and pray that you are able to feel God’s presence this Christmas. He has overcome the world and promises us a better future. We have nothing to fear.

Merry Christmas! ❤

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Thessalonians 5:23-24

Making Room for Jesus

What can we never have too much of?

A friend of mine recently gifted me a beautiful Christmas book that contains ornaments with names of Jesus to hang on the tree each day of Advent. This gift was certainly thoughtful and well-appreciated.

The thing is, though, my tree is literally leaning by the weight of decades of passed-down ornaments. My parents had boxes of childhood and young adult belongings stolen years ago, but what was left behind? All those ornaments!

Tonight, as I placed one of the final ornaments on the tree, a snowflake with the words “Light of the World” on it, I joked, “I don’t think this tree has room for another Jesus ornament!”

Hmm…

So often in our lives we shut Jesus out because we don’t think we have room for Him. Our jobs, our relationships, and our well-being have to come first. And while I’m certainly an advocate for taking care of those aspects of our lives, I believe that when we center our lives around Jesus, everything else falls into place.

We can definitely have too much of most things in life, whether it’s old furniture or cheap knick-knats or our favorite snack. We can even have too much of our loved ones, requiring us to take some space away from them to appreciate them again.

But we can never have too much Light. In fact, love, peace, and hope aren’t in abundant supply these days either. Does anyone complain about an overflow of joy or contentment? Nope.

The only way we can truly have these things is through Jesus. He is the embodiment of anything lasting and worthwhile.

Now, I won’t pretend like dedicating our lives, or even simply our Christmas season, to Jesus is easy. It takes intentionality and grace, mostly grace for ourselves when we find ourselves slipping away.

And it doesn’t mean we will always feel wonderful or close to God. It means that we are willing to stick through the tough times and make sacrifices.

But it will all be worth it.

This Christmas, make room for Jesus in your life. He desperately wants to be there for you. All you have to do is invite Him in.

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

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

I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.
John 12:46

You Can’t Stop God

How do you view God?

Not when you were a child, not when you were a teen, not even yesterday, but today. How do you view God?

For many people, God is this powerful, tyrannical being who refuses us our desires and makes us earn His love. For others, God is a carefree parent who lets us do whatever we want out of the sake of His never-ending love.

To be honest, there are brief snippits of truth in both, yet it’s missing the core of who God is. But before I dig into that, I’d like move this conversation to the musical level 😉

I recently came across the song You Can’t Stop Me, by Matt Hammitt, that perfectly depicts our relationship with God. While this song could be a beautiful dialogue between two people (which it is!), I believe these lyrics are even more profound when spoken between us and God.

The song begins with these lyrics:

Keeping my heart at arm’s length
Pushing me so far away
Keeping my kindness at bay
Tell me who hurt you
Every time that you think
You’ll be too much for me to take
You give me a reason to stay
To see mountains move

Often, the reason why we are in a tense or distant relationship with God is because we have been hurt and misled about the character of God. We believe it’s safer to pretend like there isn’t a God so that we don’t have to “burden” Him with our lives.

However, God is given an even greater reason to pursue us when we believe our problems are too much for Him. God is given the opportunity to prove His love, such as Jesus did on the cross. God continues to show us reasons why He is powerful and all-knowing.

And if you don’t think I’m afraid
That loving you could bring me pain
Oh, I know that my heart could break
It’s a chance I’ll take

Now, God isn’t afraid of anything, but loving us does bring Him pain. While the earlier verses indicate God’s glory and supernaturalness, these verses remind us of God’s human qualities.

When Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross, when He came down at Christmas to endure earthly trials, He did all this out of His love for us. However, He certainly endured pain and heartbreak at the hands of sin, our sin.

Yet He reminds us that we are worth it.

And you won’t let anyone see you
But I know that one day I’ll reach you
You won’t let anyone love you
But you can’t stop me

In our society, we often choose to hide our true feelings and lives in order to portray an idealized version of ourselves in the hope of pleasing others. But God sees us. He knows us to the fullest extent.

In the end, it’s not our choice whether or not God loves us. We can’t stop God’s love. He doesn’t force this love on us, but it will always be there for us to accept. And someday, He will make His face known to us.

So does this God sound tyrannical, unreasonable, or overly tolerant? I certainly don’t think so.

It’s out of His love for us that He wants us to change and grow into better people, which means He will let us go through difficult circumstances. But it’s also out of His love that He never gives up on us and is willing to sacrifice everything for us.

So, let me ask you again: How do you view God?

For me, on this very day, God is certainly powerful, deserving of our adoration and respect. God is also loving and merciful, forgiving me when I repent from my mistakes. But most of all, God is here. God is with me. God is with you.

God is love, so when we are with God (which is always) we have nothing to fear because there is no fear in love.

And the sooner we accept the fullness of God’s love, the sooner we will finally find hope.

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:13

To listen to You Can’t Stop Me, by Matt Hammitt (featuring Fleurie), check out this link: https://youtu.be/l_RUtxDRwJA

Free to Move On

Do you feel trapped in a toxic situation or relationship?

I once read a caption that said something along the lines of “If you have bad vibes, you are free to move on with no explanation. This is your life, so even when people question your decisions, it’s not their call to make.”

Now, I don’t know about the whole “bad vibes” thing, but there is definitely truth to the essence of this claim. Our society has been built upon compromising, second-guessing, and putting status above wellbeing for so long. Why can’t we change that?

Recently, I made the tough decision to get out of a toxic situation. I held to my commitment until it was over, but I was under an immense amount of stress that eventually felt unbearable. Now, this decision came at the cost of convenience, temporary “peace”, and having to deal with interrogations from others with different priorities.

This was a decision that affected multiple aspects of my life and has completely altered what the rest of my freshman year of college will look like. I understand why people have questions, especially those who don’t fully know the situation, but what pains me the most is hearing others’ stories of similar situations that they forced themselves to suffer through.

So many people were willing to compromise their mental health, not to mention their sleep and studies, for the sake of avoiding conflict. And I don’t blame them for this decision. After all, that’s how our society has been set up, isn’t it? We keep quiet when we’re being used. We stick with a company that’s treated us unfairly. We maintain relationships with people we’d rather avoid. All for what exactly?

As a Christian, I’ve struggled with setting boundaries and removing myself from difficult circumstances because I’ve held the false belief that we have been commanded to just deal with things as they are. But when Jesus says, “Turn the other cheek”, He doesn’t mean stay in toxic relationships. In fact, He commands us as His disciples to do the opposite.

To clarify, we are to spread the good news to everyone, including those who may have hurt us or who we disagree with. We are supposed to love others the way Jesus loves us. However, that doesn’t mean enabling toxic, manipulative, potentially even abusive behavior. In fact, if we really love someone, we should want to help them grow into the people they are designed to be.

We are all created with a divine purpose. Jesus offers us extraordinary opportunities to see Him in action if we listen and trust Him. In fact, when Jesus first sent out His twelve disciples, they were given miraculous healing powers and the chance to spread the gospel to many, many people.

As Jesus gave them instructions, He added something that we don’t often discuss.

Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. ⁵If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.
Luke 9:4-5

Jesus cares about us being treated right. He wants us to be in loving relationships and treated as His precious children.

Of course, this realistically can’t always happen, but when we are given the opportunity to get out of toxic situations and relationships, we need to take them. It isn’t “Christian” to stick around just to get hurt more. Rather, we need to see ourselves the way Jesus sees us–worth more than this.

We are given an important purpose, just as the disciples were. When we are distracted by those whose only intent is to harm us, then we aren’t able to fulfill our purpose the way Jesus intended. But we also don’t need to regret the bad situations we’ve been in either. Jesus will use every part of our story to shape us into the people we are meant to be, and that is a beautiful thing.

Today, if you are trying to step away from something harmful, I want you to remember that no matter what anyone else says, you’re worth it. You don’t owe anyone any explanations. This is your one and only life. Be free to be who God designed you to be.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Ephesians 4:1

You are Somebody

Do you want to be “someone” in this world? Well, guess what? You already are!

A song that’s been stuck in my head the past few days is Someone to You, by Banners. A repeated line goes, “I just wanna be someone. Well, doesn’t everyone?”

Come to think of it, yes we do!

While this song implies finding a romantic partner, I believe we are all hoping to be someone in this world. We want to have meaning. And in a world of nearly 8 billion people, it’s a struggle to feel significant.

Often, on this quest to “be someone”, we get lost along the way. We may search for validation in romantic relationships, which leave us brokenhearted. Or perhaps we strive for a promotion or impressive resumé to boost our marketability. Maybe we think we can only be someone if we are famous or rich or popular.

And while the truth is that Jesus sees all of us as someone, this fact doesn’t bring us much reassurance. After all, if everyone is someone, then what’s so special about it?

Our society strives for uniqueness. Think about it in the fashion world. What’s more expensive, the mass-produced dress at Target or the hand-embroidered, one-of-a-kind designer gown? Obviously the one that’s harder to come by.

But here’s the thing: Jesus doesn’t work the way our society works. When He calls us treasured and valued and loved, it doesn’t matter that He also loves every single other person who ever existed. That’s because His love is infinite. It isn’t mass-produced, but unique and special to each individual.

As a kid, did you ever try taking home a stray animal or even a wild critter from outdoors? Your parents warned you not to name it because you couldn’t keep it. What’s so special about a name? Names build attachment; they form a connection.

Jesus knows us by name. In fact, He’s the one who named us and continues to call us by name. He knows every intricate detail of us, from the number of hairs on our head to our distant memories we can’t even remember anymore.

No matter what anyone says, you are somebody.

In fact, Jesus says that you aren’t just somebody. You are everything to Him.

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine…Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.
Isaiah 43:1,4

What are We Really Trying to Get from Social Media?

After scrolling through your feed, have you been left empty?

Now, based on the topic of this post, you’re likely assuming I’m about to bash social media. But honestly, I’m not one to criticize it too much considering I have multiple social media platforms and I’ve met several good friends thanks to Instagram.

However, I’ve also seen several waves of social media by being a GenZer (we’ll pretend that’s a word). I remember when my peers first got phones in middle school and there were talks in youth group about avoiding certain ads and being wary of internet stalkers. The reputations of apps have shifted over time, going from only the “popular kids” having social media to alternative forms of messaging being the main source of communication during quarantine.

But now, as we are (hopefully) emerging out of COVID times, what are people’s opinions of social media? Among my peers, many are just plain sick of it. It’s become too comfortable of a home for internet trolls, people who just want to start up a fight, and a place that harbors loneliness and comparison.

Now, arguably, social media has been a bridge for many to make friends, which I believe to be the biggest benefit of it. But I don’t think that’s the real reason why social media exists.

Social media is basically a platform where people get to handpick their friends, watch their lives from a distance, and share life’s highlights with the world. Never before have we been given the opportunity to gauge exactly how many people care about our lives. That’s essentially what likes and views mean, right? The higher the number, the more people we have who care about us.

So in essence, social media is less about what we’re actually posting and more about feeling loved. We get a cheap thrill from watching our numbers skyrocket, only to have our hearts shattered by a poorly worded comment or an unfollow.

And really, the whole thing feels ridiculous, right? Stewing over a conversation with a stranger or devastated by a lack of response. Making assumptions about others from a single emoji or caption. The more our minds spiral, the more stupid we feel. This causes us to invalidate our feelings, which only creates further harm.

So what’s the solution? Delete social media? Go AWOL?

I don’t think so.

Honestly, if social media were erased from the planet, our problems wouldn’t go away. Humans have constantly searched for love in all the wrong places, and social media isn’t the only wrong place.

Instead, we need to figure out where true love really comes from. And, despite what the holiday Hallmark movies might tell you, it doesn’t come from under the mistletoe 😉

We can love each other, whether as family members, friends, or romantically. But none of us can love perfectly, no matter how amazing you are (which you are amazing, no doubt).

Only God can.

God never gives up on us, never forces us to impress Him or earn His love, and is the only One with the power to truly forgive us. He knows us inside and out, and yet He is still longing to be in relationship with us.

So this holiday season, perhaps others’ posts have made you feel isolated or discouraged if you haven’t had the best winter season so far. Maybe you’ve seen one too many engagement posts or families matching in Christmas pajamas. Yet you feel more alone than ever.

Don’t let comparison steal your joy.

When you find your love and your joy in Jesus, you will be able to feel happy for others while having hope about your own future.

You are loved, no matter what. Never forget that. ❤

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
Exodus 15:13

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
Psalm 5:11

What’s Worth Celebrating?

Are you having trouble finding reasons to celebrate this Christmas?

Christmastime: The season of joyful singing, generous giving, and reflections of gratitude over the past year. We celebrate Jesus coming to save us and how our world has been fantastic ever since He left…right?

Well, we may not exactly feel that way this year. COVID has forced us to look past ourselves and the coverups of the mistreatment and pain many, if not all of us, experience over the course of our lives. We can’t hide behind bright lights, festive parties, and overspending.

And while vulnerability and honesty are valuable and important things we long for, we can’t help but have a bitter taste in our mouths as we struggle to find what’s worth celebrating these days.

So, what are we really celebrating when our world doesn’t feel like it’s been saved?

The one thing that can’t be changed: God’s love.

Now, I know what you might be thinking. You’re already tired of hearing the word “love”. Love is overused and over-simplified through Hallmark movies, seasonal proposals, and the occasional hopeless romantic in your life who is making a desperate search for a companion for the holidays. But the truth is, when we take the time to realize what love really is, we are able to have something worth celebrating.

Love, in the grandest form, is sacrificial. And Jesus surely made the ultimate sacrifice for us. When He came down as a poor, homeless baby, He knew what lie ahead of Him. Temptation, betrayal, mockery, and ultimate death on a cross. He knew He had to literally step into every single possible situation we might experience so that He can empathize with us. And though this mission was risky and unpleasant, He was willing to do whatever it took to show us how much He loves us.

But yet, though Jesus came to offer hope, justice, and compassion, our world seems to be lacking every quality of Jesus. In fact, life feels like it’s getting worse most of the time.

So how come it doesn’t feel like Jesus’ sacrifice paid off?

Well, the simple answer would be that Jesus isn’t done restoring our world. It will reach a breaking point and Jesus will return to redeem us once and for all.

But what are we to do in the meantime? Why couldn’t Jesus get the job done the first time?

I’m sure Jesus could, but He knew that allowing us to live in a broken world would cause us to value His love even more. When we experience hardships, especially at the hands of others, we are able to better appreciate being in a relationship with someone (Jesus) who loves us no matter what and always works for our good.

Christmas isn’t about celebrating an idealistic world that hasn’t come yet, though we can certainly anticipate a day with no more pain. Christmas isn’t about celebrating what we wish the world could be and feeling resentful that we haven’t achieved these goals yet.

Christmas is about living in our present, often difficult, circumstances and celebrating that even though we are flawed human beings, the God of the universe was (and is) willing to sacrifice everything just to be in a relationship with us. We are celebrating that His love for us reaches no end and we have the capability to extend that love to others, particularly around the holidays.

This Christmas, you can have a smile on your face and unexplainable joy in your heart as you remember how much Jesus loves you and is alongside you through your journey.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Romans 11:29

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:4-5

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him…
John 1:9-10

If you have an children in your life and are searching for a heartwarming, yet straightforward version of the Christmas story, here is a book I co-authored that shares the true meaning of Christmas!

To check out this book: https://www.blurb.com/b/10989294

Happy Birthday… By Hannah Chung

Book Preview

Jesus, Heal Our Land

Our broken world needs healing more than ever, but how can we obtain that?

I came across a verse this evening that really resonated with me.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

Now, for a bit of context before we dive into this passage, God is speaking to Solomon right after Solomon dedicated his newly constructed temple to the Lord. Clearly, the Israelites already have a track record of not listening to God after asking for a worldly, human ruler in place of God and constantly looking to other ungodly people groups to gain “inspiration” for how to live. However, even after everything, out of the endless love in His heart, God promises His people that He will listen when they call out to Him.

As you can see, our world is no better than the world during 2 Chronicles. There is so much man-made destruction of relationships, identity, nature, and internal wellbeing. People are dying every day at the hands of others’ selfishness. Others are suffering for the sake of wealth or status or even tradition. None of these things would be happening if God were recognized as our leader because God is just, merciful, and loving. We need deep healing in our land.

You might think that we are too far gone. And truthfully, I often feel that way as well. But God is always willing to give us a second (or millionth) chance. When we cry out, He listens. But we need to be in the right “heart space” in order to have this intimate relationship with God.

And where better to learn than through God’s own instruction?

Humble Yourselves

The first command God gives Solomon for the Israelites relates to humility. Pride (the opposite of humility) is one of our biggest separators from God. When we recognize that our worth comes from God alone, we accept that we need His grace and forgiveness in order to live fully. We cannot do anything by our own strength. The glory must truly go to God.

Pray

Prayer comes in many forms. The traditional list of prayer requests often feels lengthy and unnecessary. But prayers are really just a conversation with God. We need to build in time for listening and accepting the convictions He gives us. That often requires discomfort, but it’s worth it for the sake of growth. And if we have followed the first step, humbling ourselves, then we are more likely to be able to take the changes God wants for us. We are also given the opportunity to experience joy through gratitude during these times of prayer.

Unique ways to pray:

Prayer journaling

Writing letters to God

Singing

Taking a walk through nature and listening for God

Popcorn prayers (going back and forth with another person to list off what needs prayer)

Reading scripture

Seek My Face

We can’t just expect God to be waiting to serve us at our hands and feet. We need to make intentional effort to have a relationship with God too. By reading the Bible, listening for God, and truly having the desire to know Him, we will be able to seek His face. God loves a willing, inquisitive heart and will reward the efforts you make to find Him.

Turn from Your Wicked Ways

Something our culture doesn’t like to hear is that we do actually do things that aren’t right. Shocking, I know.

But seriously, while God loves us no matter what, He doesn’t want us to stay buried in our lives of sin. He wants to free us from the chains sin places on us. Knowing what is a sin and being willing to accept that we aren’t perfect requires all the previous steps (humility and knowing God’s character).

The awesome thing is that when we do things that are wrong, God doesn’t inflict shame upon us the way the world does. Rather, we are given hope that things can get better and that we are designed for greater things.

I hope you will join me in praying for our broken world. My heart goes out to all of you who have truly felt the weight of the world on your shoulders. You are loved. Don’t give up showing God’s light, we need it more than ever.

Life’s Cheap Replacements

What do we really need?

I’ve learned a lot from college so far, but one thing I didn’t anticipate learning was the importance of seat cushions.

That’s right, seat cushions. Considering the price we pay for living expenses on campus, you’d think they could splurge for more than a hard, plastic chair that squeaks. But nope, guess not. And after hours of studying, calling, drawing, and reading in that chair, my back got pretty upset with me.

When I got home, I returned to my much more comfortable chair. However, it also doesn’t have adequate back support. I had purchased a seat cushion for my chair at school, but it got packed away with the other boxes of things saved for next year. So what did I do?

Over the course of a week, I tried a variety of methods. First, I added a slim, silky blanket. Not sure what I thought that would do. Then I added a sherpa, an extra-thick and cushy blanket. That added a bit of support. Then I placed a pillow vertically against the back of the chair. Finally, I put another pillow on top of it, horizontally this time, for shoulder support.

By the time I got done, I barely had any room to sit! And the thing is, this design leaves very little room for finding the perfect seat position, meaning my back still gets sore, just not as quickly.

Now, you’re probably wondering two things: When am I going to stop talking about seat cushions and why didn’t I just search for my real seat cushion?

To answer your first question, trust me, this does have a point. To the second, I suppose it was laziness or the thought that maybe I could figure this out on my own. The more things I added, the more assurance I had that I’d be able to create a masterpiece of a chair.

The truth is, we do this a lot in our spiritual lives too. We feel an ache for God, but we fill that empty space in our hearts with something other than Him. Perhaps it’s material wealth, a relationship, or an adventurous lifestyle. Or maybe it’s a career, a fantasy, or even helping those in need.

None of those things are inherently evil, but when they are used to replace God, they leave us feeling betrayed. We get frustrated with ourselves because we’ve tried everything we can, only to end up tired and confused.

When we look at these cheap replacements for Jesus, we wonder why we’d ever go for what’s empty over what’s priceless. But perhaps our reasons are as simple as mine when it came to the chair. We’re tired already. We don’t want to do the work that it takes to build an intimate relationship with Jesus. Perhaps we feel like we’ve tried the whole “faith thing” and it didn’t feel the way we wanted it to.

But here’s the thing: Building any sort of lasting relationship takes time and effort. If it does with people, then certainly it will with God. Our relationship with God is arguably the most complex, intricate, and confusing relationship we’ll ever have. But isn’t the wholeness, the love, and the forgiveness He offers worth whatever sacrifices it takes?

Today, ask yourself what areas in your life are being used to replace God. Maybe it’s something small, easy to remove. Or perhaps it’s your lifestyle. You don’t have to let go of your entire way of being, but you may need to make changes in order to see where your priorities really are.

More than anything, Jesus wants this relationship with you. He’s ready to meet you wherever you’re at. So stop waiting around for things to get better on their own and start chasing Jesus like He’s chasing you.

Meanwhile, I’ll be hunting for my seat cushion. 😉

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
James 4:8-10