A PROMISE FOR GOD
“Jesus answered, ‘If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’’” – John 8:54
I just turned 48 years old last month and have been (and am currently going through) what appears to be a midlife crisis. I’ve seen it played out on tv and the movies for years, but have never understood what it really was…until I hit my 40s. I have never debated and discerned the direction of my life as much as I have in the last eight years, because a common concern during midlife is identity and purpose. I often wonder who I am and what I am living for. Am I carrying out God’s plan for me? Or have I gone rogue and God is now trying to salvage the mess I’ve made?
My prayers over the past few years have been a cycle of the same questions – God, am I doing what you want me to do? What should I do next? What is the next step? What did you bring me on earth to be? Any word or sign will do… hello is anyone there? The answer is almost always the same.
Keep doing what you’re doing.
Though I’ve struggled with such a vague, but also very straightforward response in prayer, I learned over time that what I am doing is always leading somewhere, but the endpoint is not my concern. It’s His. Because my purpose – from the smallest tasks to making the most significant decisions – is to do everything with God, for God. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells us that it is God who glorifies us; we do not glorify ourselves. All we do, is for His glory and God’s covenant is that He will always be there with us no matter what we decide to do for His glory. It seems like such a simplified explanation, but when my motivation is self-righteousness, money, recognition, or external validation, my purpose often fails to stand any ground.
In this Lenten season, may we reflect on our actions and ask ourselves – am I doing this for God’s greater glory or mine?
Anna Gonda