C.S. Lewis once said, “Don't shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him.”
This Sunday as we talked about being a light for Christ, my mind was drawn to a time where my light was shining bright…but for all the wrong reasons.
I was living for myself. And on the outside, my world screamed “success.” I had friends, accomplishments, big dreams and plans, scholarships, and a promising running career ahead of me.
At times, I look back on those years and think, “Why was I so sure of myself?” It was almost as if I thought I had the world in the palm of my hand. What caused such confidence?
It was also during that time that I distinctly remember having one foot in the world and one foot in a relationship with Christ. My words said, “I am a Christian” but my actions screamed worldliness, lust and pride. I was caught up in what the world had to offer, not realizing it was all an empty promise of peace.
My mind was split in two places. As James 1:8 so clearly says, “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (KJV)
You see, the assurance back then of who I thought I was turned out to be a false anchor. I thought I was stable, but the pursuit of God and the world just turned out to be shaky ground.
Once I got to college and beyond that, I realized that God didn’t actually want my success…He wanted my surrender.
It took years to see this, but after a few failed attempts at entering different career fields, I felt more lost than ever. I cried out to the Lord, “What do I do now?”
I had tasted what the world had to give, and it never came close to His love.
After anchoring myself in the world, I began to turn the ship around and anchor myself in Christ. To outsiders, my life might not look like a “success” - but to God, I believe it is a great success. I am growing in surrender, free-falling into His arms. It is a wild ride, and there have been twists and turns I would never write into my own story. But it’s our story, mine and God’s…and I love each and every chapter that unfolds.
Friend, does your life look “successful” on the outside, but deep down you feel hollow?
Maybe it’s time to surrender your plans. Maybe He wants you to shine even brighter than you ever imagined because you are now willing to shine for His glory. Maybe the light inside of you has grown dim, but He is now ready to reveal His riches and glorious grace as He lights that fire once again.
The challenge here is to lay your plans on the altar….lay down what you thought your life would look like. Like we talked about last week, anything we hand over and lay down becomes a fragrant offering to our Lord.
What will happen next? Only the Author knows, the beautiful Author who holds the rest of your story in His capable hands.
This Sunday as we talked about being a light for Christ, my mind was drawn to a time where my light was shining bright…but for all the wrong reasons.
I was living for myself. And on the outside, my world screamed “success.” I had friends, accomplishments, big dreams and plans, scholarships, and a promising running career ahead of me.
At times, I look back on those years and think, “Why was I so sure of myself?” It was almost as if I thought I had the world in the palm of my hand. What caused such confidence?
It was also during that time that I distinctly remember having one foot in the world and one foot in a relationship with Christ. My words said, “I am a Christian” but my actions screamed worldliness, lust and pride. I was caught up in what the world had to offer, not realizing it was all an empty promise of peace.
My mind was split in two places. As James 1:8 so clearly says, “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (KJV)
You see, the assurance back then of who I thought I was turned out to be a false anchor. I thought I was stable, but the pursuit of God and the world just turned out to be shaky ground.
Once I got to college and beyond that, I realized that God didn’t actually want my success…He wanted my surrender.
It took years to see this, but after a few failed attempts at entering different career fields, I felt more lost than ever. I cried out to the Lord, “What do I do now?”
I had tasted what the world had to give, and it never came close to His love.
After anchoring myself in the world, I began to turn the ship around and anchor myself in Christ. To outsiders, my life might not look like a “success” - but to God, I believe it is a great success. I am growing in surrender, free-falling into His arms. It is a wild ride, and there have been twists and turns I would never write into my own story. But it’s our story, mine and God’s…and I love each and every chapter that unfolds.
Friend, does your life look “successful” on the outside, but deep down you feel hollow?
Maybe it’s time to surrender your plans. Maybe He wants you to shine even brighter than you ever imagined because you are now willing to shine for His glory. Maybe the light inside of you has grown dim, but He is now ready to reveal His riches and glorious grace as He lights that fire once again.
The challenge here is to lay your plans on the altar….lay down what you thought your life would look like. Like we talked about last week, anything we hand over and lay down becomes a fragrant offering to our Lord.
What will happen next? Only the Author knows, the beautiful Author who holds the rest of your story in His capable hands.
Erika Pizzo
Erika is an author of various books on the topics of faith, mental health, and victory in Christ. She also hosts the weekly podcast “Temple Care” where she provides regular messages of encouragement. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach and a chai latte in hand.