I recently conversed with a dear friend and beloved brother in the Lord. We hadn’t spoken in a while, so we had much to catch up on. We talked about diverse things, eventually veering towards discussing burdens that our peers, young adults in their twenties and thirties, face in adulthood. Coming of age comes with many overwhelming challenges. These challenges include pressures of the economy, career, relationships, family, and walking with God.
When we were kids and teenagers with a lot of support from family and friends, the zeal and excitement to serve the Lord in different teams in the church was apparent and contagious. We would enjoy musical practices in the church, have a passion for soul-winning, help in the ministry, come excitedly to camps, pray, and trust the Lord. But as we mature and age, our focus slowly begins to shift. We readily compare ourselves with others and shockingly realize that our colleagues are making faster progress. Perhaps friends are getting married, and it looks like we’re left behind. People begin to look at us differently and no longer excuse our actions. The people we felt meant the world to us, and who we couldn’t do a day without become distant, and sometimes we eventually no longer notice and don’t even care. Slowly, we begin to make new acquaintances. Migration happens and we find ourselves in different circumstances and situations that may be strange to us, without being adequately prepared.
With these changes in our external environment and circumstances, our inbuilt thermostat tends to adjust to accommodate the changes. Many times, there’s that pressure and uncertainty that shows itself in desperation. We become frantic and hasty in our concerted efforts to make things work out by all means. Sadly, in that state of mind, the first casualty is our walk with God. The scriptures we quoted with zest growing up that were supposed to be our strengths in these periods become cliché. We forget the popular refrain that “with Jesus on our side, we can never fail.” Instead, we run around with the latest trending thing to avoid being left behind. No longer do we say:
My hope is built on nothing else,
than Jesus blood and righteousness,
I dare not trust the sweetest friend,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
We now say that heaven helps those who help themselves. Our convictions change based on our circumstances, and we swallow every breaking news from the world until there's no space for the broadcast from heaven. At that point, we look down on other believers and only seek satisfaction and validation in ministers who can stir up something in us, forgetting that we are also ministers unto the Lord.
It is no secret that the devil aims to affect our walk with God in that period of transition. He does this because he knows that if we leave God behind, there’s nothing left for us. At that point, we’ve become very comfortable and relaxed with the world, her system of life, and practices. The devil might have even sown and deposited some of his resources upon our lives, or we might have willingly taken part in his bounties. At that state, it is easy for him to find something in us that he leverages to affect our lives perpetually (John 14:30). He can alter the course and trajectory of our lives, and we end up chasing shadows, leaving behind all that God has in store for us.
For that not to be our portion, our priority at this transition point should be seeking Jesus and Jesus alone. He should be our ONLY focus and our ONLY goal. We start our day with him; we face our tasks with him in mind. We commit our ways to him and acknowledge his sovereignty over our lives, families, and situations. The Bible says it is not given to man that walketh to order his steps (Jeremiah 10:23). Especially as we become young adults, it is abundantly clear that we don’t order it by leaning on her understanding. We owe it to the Lord, our destinies, our families, and the generation unborn to spend this time seeking his face. The scripture says to seek the kingdom of God first, and his righteousness and all other things shall be added to you (Mathew 6:33). We spend too much time on the other additional things rather than the main ones. Think of it like trying to get toothpick and serviette, rather than the main meal filled with all delicacies, meats, and sides. Focus on the meats; the toothpicks naturally come when you want to pick your teeth, and the serviette to clean your mouth.
A prayer my friend taught me a while ago is to ask God to help us fall on Jesus when we cannot stand. We can hold God by a thread, even if it is so thin and worn out. He promised not to break that bruised reed or quench the smouldering flask (Matt 12:20). Even if what may have connected you with God may seem so tiny and insignificant, hold onto it, for in so doing, God can make a great rope, new garments, and covering with that thread, for little is much when God is in it. Let your motive, goal, and desires be God, and be on God alone. His will should be passionately sought to dictate our actions, plans, aspirations, and steps in life. We would not despair in, pursuing him nor allow the influences that weigh us down to make him recede far from our lives, for He is our source of strength, confidence, and guidance in navigating this journey.
Finally, beloved soldier, as you reflect on this word, I hope your gaze gets redirected to the Lamb on the throne.
Action Point
Identify that thread that you’re holding unto God with and keep holding. Do not lose your faith, for one with God is the majority. Do not allow the things on earth to overwhelm you. Simply make Jesus the priority, and ALL other things will be added, pressed down, shaken together, and run over in Jesus’ name (Amen).
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