05/06/2026
NOT OF THIS WORLD
Living out John 17:16—being in this world but not of it—is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
For years, I thought I had it figured out. Love God, love people. Simple, right? But this week, my heart shattered open. I realized I had missed the deepest part of this truth.
The painful reality is that while we belong to Christ, we are still raised by the patterns of this world. Society quietly shapes our dreams, our desires, and our definitions of worth. Without even realizing it, we carry those heavy, earthly expectations straight into our walk with Him. And when these expectations are not met we grow frustrated with a heavenly God for not meeting our earthly expectations.
Recently, my therapist asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks:
“Who was the most successful human to ever live?”
My mind instantly went to King Solomon’s wealth, or the modern billionaires who hold the world’s riches. But her answer was Jesus. 🤯💔
Jesus. The most successful human to ever walk the earth, yet He had nowhere to lay His head. By age 33, He owned no home. He was unmarried. He had no children. He was financially poor, living off the generosity of His followers.
Hearing that challenged every single thing I believed about my own life. It forced me to look at my prayers and my disappointments. I realized my petitions still revolve so heavily around temporary things.
*I celebrate a job promotion way more than I celebrate God transforming my mind.
* I dance over a new source of income, but barely blink at the miracle of becoming a new creation.
* The anchor of my hope has been my bank balance, not the things above.
It took facing a devastating injustice to break me back into reality. I had to be stripped of my comfort to remember what the Word—and this song—so desperately tries to teach us: only God can hold us. Only God can love us. Only God can fill the empty spaces.
If He is doing that, and that alone, then that is true Kingdom success. Empty hands, but a full soul. 🙌🏽😭 and that’s on
Psalm 4:7
“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.” Thanks dad🤍
