4 minute read
By Bethany Rees

Why oh why can’t we get ahead of the stress in our lives? 

Why can’t we get ahead of our busyness, overwhelmed feelings, and lack of purpose? 

Many of us “just can’t even” anymore with our external stresses that are causing us internal turmoil that leaves us philosophically asking: “Is there more to life than this?”

All too often we seek to remove our external stresses, calm our inner turmoil, and answer our philosophical question by seeking a change in our circumstances. 

But here’s a truth you must consider: When you’re always chasing the BLANK for a better circumstance, you don’t really ever find what you’re looking for.  

Yes, the band U2 had it right, when you and I keep chasing the BLANK we’re destined to repeat after them, “But I still haven't found what I'm looking for.”

I know I’ve done it. I’ve ran away from my circumstance in hopes for a better one. I’ve lived in the land of “IF’s and  BLANKS .”

I mean, have you ever thought about how many times people say the word “if” followed by a fill-in-the-blank word?

• IF I just had more BLANK, then I could…
• IF my husband would just BLANK then I would…
• IF my kids would just BLANK, then they could…
• IF I just find the right BLANK, then I would be successful, skinny, promoted, appreciated, validated, etc, etc, etc. 

We keep adding different “IF’s” and chasing the different BLANKS to add things to the scales of our lives trying to find the right proportions for a happy balance.

But life isn’t a math problem where we need to keep adjusting the variables to find the solution of balance. 

Instead life is about learning to have harmony: 

Harmony is finding the BEAUTY and JOY in the imperfect present and along the path of progress. 

Too often we believe the lies that the perfect BLANK exists and the BLANK will fix our problems by creating better circumstances for us. 

Especially when people are seeking relief from their stresses, they easily give into the lie that the BLANK will provide that relief and make us feel happy again.  

Yes many people choose to chase the BLANK. 

They watch talk shows and social media reels where people highlight their BLANKS and give them 3 ways or 10 ways to do BLANK so they can accomplish that feeling of happiness and value that they’re chasing. 

But y’all, I care too much about you to not share what small amount of insights I have about the outcome of choosing to constantly chase a BLANK.  

Don’t chase a feeling. 

Happiness is a feeling that is fleeting depending on the situation you’re in. I can be happy one moment and depressed the next. No one is ever happy 100% of the time. So stop chasing a feeling because the outcome is to always be chasing but to never find. 

Don’t chase perfection. 

Perfection isn’t possible. Only Christ is perfect. There is no perfect spouse, perfect kids, perfect job, perfect company, and no perfect boss. Those do NOT exist. So stop chasing perfection because the outcome is to always be chasing but to never find. 

Don’t chase your value or self worth. 

People chase money, fame, success, religion, or likes on social media to find that feeling of value, or self worth. If you find yourself chasing your value, I beg you to stop running. Instead I ask you to sit. Be still and know that you’re already valued and of worth. You already have it. So stop chasing your value and self worth because you don’t have to earn it; it’s already yours given to you by God your creator.  

We must stop chasing things that don’t exist, aren’t static and long lasting, or things we already have. 

We have so much to lose if we spend our time and energy chasing the BLANK, and our life and our family is too important to give up for the chase of the BLANK. 

Know Better. Do Better. Live Better. Don’t Chase the BLANK.

Rocks before Sand!

Scripture: 

“Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.”

~Ecclesiastes 6:9

Theme Song: 

U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (Lyrics)

References Used:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.