Not For the Joneses

“You were not created to keep up with the Joneses, but to forge your own path.” - Unknown

God loves us. He blesses everything we do. He provides for all of our needs. He protects us from danger. He guides us to where we need to go. But sometimes we mistake these blessings for the wrong reasons. Sometimes we think God is blessing us so that we can match our neighbors. That God is guiding us so we can keep up with those around us. We think that God is protecting us so that we can be around to do more of what we want to do. But that is not the case at all.

God provides because he loves us. God protects because he cares for us. God is there because we are his children. But the main reason is so that we are not worried about anything else that’s going on in our lives and this world. With nothing to worry and distract us, we can focus on the purpose that He has for us. We can focus on our calling. God has a plan for us to complete, a journey to be on. Before we were born God knew us and loved us. He placed a purpose inside of every single one of us with gifts. If we are so busy looking around and being worried for our children; or if we are so busy being afraid of what will happen next in our lives, and if what we need will be provided, how are we going to do what God needs us to do?

Aside from that, we get to the point where we feel the need to keep up with the Joneses. Live the life that others have. Vacations like others do. Maintain the same goals as others have. It will keep us running and competing for the wrong things. Comparing will kick in and we will be driven to go for what God did not plan for us to do to begin with. We are not here to get the biggest house or the best job. We’re not here to be better, not even at least the same as everybody else. We are here to be different.

We are here to be God's unique child with a unique journey.

That’s why we need to spend more time with God than with the world. You need directions of what to do and where to go. You can’t get that from someone other than your creator. You need to go to God to get guidance. Not spending time with him and not hearing from him will keep you continuously searching or lost. Feeling like there is something you need to be doing but nothing brings you joy. Feeling that you have not accomplished what you were supposed to, and you want more. We will only find ourselves in the right place when we are plugged into the right source. 

When you feel that joy and that peace inside of you, you know you are on the right path. But when you feel confusion and fear and worry there’s something wrong. That is the red light flashing at you telling you, you need to check under the hood because there’s something wrong going on. Get yourself to the mechanic and pick up that Bible and ask God what your priority is. What am I supposed to be doing? What should I focus on? Leave the worry and the stress behind because God is handling everything so that you can handle YOUR thing for HIM.