Not Wasted

Sometimes, I catch myself thinking my life is being wasted. I’m 30, yet I have no husband, no children, and—until a very short time ago—no job. Some days, I can’t even get out of bed and do anything. I feel as if I’m just existing, waiting for my life to be over, with little to show for it. It seems like such a waste.

But then I realize that my focus is on the wrong things. It is not God’s plan for me to have those things right now, but that doesn’t mean that God isn’t using me in some way. I have recently learned that God uses our struggles so that we can encourage others in their struggles. Part of this lesson was learned through talking with a friend of mine from high school. This friend has learned that she has a chronic illness within the last few years, and she and I have grown closer in the last months because of our shared experiences with restrictive diets and similar struggles that come with having a chronic illness. My friendship with her has been a huge encouragement to me to not give up and to keep my focus on Christ. She has also been a great example in encouraging others struggling with chronic health issues. It was through her encouragement of me and our shared encouragement of another friend that I realized that my experiences with my chronic illness can be a comfort to others with chronic illnesses.

As 2 Corinthians 1:4 says, God “comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (judging by the repetition in this verse, I think Paul was trying to get a point across). I guess I always had this knowledge in my head, but—as I’ve said—I’ve only recently experienced it for myself. This new realization, though, has helped me understand that my life isn’t a waste because God can use my lack of success in the world’s eyes and even the hard things in my life to encourage others in godly success. (And I praise Him that He has used this little blog of mine in such a way! Thank you for your comments that tell me so!)

My feelings of being wasted are a result of viewing my life through a worldly filter. It boils down—again—to what my definition of success is. True success is not having full checking and savings accounts or my own home or my own family, as the world says it is. Instead, true success is, as Micah 6:8 says, “to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with [my] God.” This is a lesson that I have needed to teach to myself many times and will continue to need to do so over and over and over most likely for the rest of my life.

Grasping this concept lifts a huge burden from my shoulders. I don’t have to have the “perfect life” with every aspect completely under control. I don’t have to meet the world’s or my own expectations for my life. I simply need to obey the commandments that God has given me in His Word, which can be simplified as loving God and loving others (Matthew 22:35-40). Part of this showing love for others is encouraging them to keep their focus on God even when life is hard, to not give up even though they may really want to, to get their minds off of themselves and look for someone else to encourage. Basically, the same reminders that I myself need every day.

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