Are you drifting in an endless sea of hopelessness?
Are you sailing in an ocean of confusion that’s making you despondent and disillusioned? Do not give up! Do not grow weary because you are not alone.
Relax, take a deep breath and reflect on the fact that you did not come to this world on your own accord and that a greater power Who formed and brought you here did so for a purpose. That purpose is what gives meaning to life and makes you look forward to another day of possibilities.
Making meaning out of life is perhaps the most significant emotional discomfort people deal with, especially when they are not aligned with their pre-designed paths.
On the basic level, think about it like this. Every product is manufactured for a purpose. In putting it together, there are instructions on how to arrive at a finished good. Upon completion, there are additional instructions housed in a user manual that tells how to operate it in order to achieve the desired outcome.
Any steps taken outside of these guidelines will lead to unwanted results or dysfunctional solutions. You might contest this by saying products are not good examples because they are non-living things. True, but one can cite other examples like the fish that is designed to live and thrive in water but fails once outside its habitat.
Similarly, birds go farther when they fly and do not attempt the same journey running on a sidewalk. Bacteria exist to biodegrade the materials that replenish the soil. Even though they live in the ground and other surfaces, they are not farmers and do not sow seed. Take them away from their natural environment and they either die or become ineffective. In essence, everything is created to thrive distinctively and with a purpose. So, it is with us human beings.
Many of us are yet to identify with our maker in the real sense of the word, identity. We really do not understand how we are wired, the gifts ingrained in us and the reason for being here on earth. We are yet to appreciate the fact that we are chosen and set apart to do exploits. We’ve taken our gaze off the author and finisher of our faith, Who loved us first and designed us specially for His pleasure. As a reminder, Peter puts it this way:
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Here, Peter is telling the church that as one body in Christ, it should be distinguishable from the world. Though addressing the church as a collective, this passage can be put into perspective and applied to individuals – that we are a peculiar breed and totally different from unbelievers.
Nonetheless, we are reminded that we are bound to encounter situations that make us question our faith because we have chosen the straight and narrow way. Sometimes we overcome the challenges, albeit temporarily, and we find there’s a grey cloud hanging over our heads that exacerbates the ongoing conflicts within our souls.
This period is when we grope in the dark for answers and in darkness, there is sure to be a loss of direction. The good news is that there is a way out. For the unsaved, they must quit trying to figure things out within the confines of their limited understanding by submitting all they are wrestling with to Almighty God and accepting the gift of salvation. For those who have done so but still find themselves swimming against the tide, retracing one’s steps to the source is the sure way to go.
In the days of the early sailors and oftentimes, when they would run into storms and tempestuous winds, they’d rely on the lighthouse for direction. The lighthouse sat on top of rocks that were sure to destroy their ships. In essence, the lighthouse was a navigational aid. In life, Jesus is our “lighthouse”. When we develop a good relationship with Him by immersing ourselves in the scriptures, we’ll find that His Word is light unto our feet and lamp unto our path as shared by the Psalmist in Psalm: 119:105. He assured us of this when He spoke to the people that:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
No matter how bad things may seem with you, rest assured that nothing is impossible with God. He will undoubtedly turn around your situation for good. Note that Jesus has subdued sin and the evils of this world for our sake. If we seek and receive his marvelous light, we will realize that virtually all the things we struggle with are not as imposing as they appear to be.