We’ve all heard it, maybe said it, and quite possibly strive after it. We compare our lives to others who are supposedly living it. And if we’re honest, we believe we deserve it. It being to live our best life now.
But have you ever stopped to consider what we are attaching that kind of living to and how it’s messaging matches up to the gospel?
Most often I see “living my best life now” as a caption with an Instagram pic of someone on a vacation, doing something awesome or simply enjoying rest and relaxation at its finest. It may also be attached to a relationship or an accomplishment. Of course, there is nothing wrong with these things in and of themselves. The problem is we so look to these things to give us “life,” and without these things feel jilted. And this becomes breeding ground for bitterness, entitlement, comparison and idolatry.
Just consider you are stuck at home with piles of laundry and carpools to run. Your husband works late most night, the budget is tight and you can’t remember the last time you even went on a date night. Meanwhile your friend is sitting on the beach in Turks and Caicos with a fruity drink in one hand and a book in the other. Clearly you think, “She is living her best life and I am not.” And just like that Satan’s lies sneak in, sparking resentment and thoughts about what you need to do to make yourself happy.
We have become disillusioned over what life should be like. We are looking for heaven on earth. Seeking treausures in what the world values.
But you know what Jesus says?
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy…(Matthew 6:19)” and “In the world you will have tribulation…(John 16:33).”
This world is not our home and the things of it will neither last nor fully satisfy. And because of sin nothing here is as it should be, making it an impossibility to not experience hurt, hard, heartache, struggles and suffering.
“But,” Jesus goes on to say, “Take heart I have overcome the world.”
Because of Jesus we are not left alone to navigate this life. And, we have the hope of true life with him in heaven one day, which will be better than the best life we could ever imagine here.
We need to remind ourselves and our kids of this truth. Otherwise we fix our eyes not on Jesus and his promises, but the illusion of what we think our life here now should be like. And when that false reality fails, but appears to be working for all those around us we sink in on self.
What we need is a new view of “living our best life.” One infused with the gospel.
Knowing in this world we will have trouble should change our expectations about what life here is like. It’s not going to be everyday on the mountaintop. But for those days in the mundane and in the valley we are not without hope. Jesus has already done everything necessary to secure our future inheritance (1 Peter 1:4).
“Therefore…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-3).”
Could we not say then that what living your best life really looks like is endurance?
That sounds far from the exciting world our selfie culture has placed it’s stake in. Quite honestly, it’s why it’s not the more popular choice. But with a long-range perspective I hope after I’ve lived my last day it will be said of me that I lived my best life, not because I spent my days with toes in the sand, but by his grace stayed tethered to him in all seasons.
**For awhile now thoughts have been perculating in my mind about this idea of “living your best life.” But it was hearing Sissy Goff’s interview with Heather MacFayden on the Don’t Mom Alone podcast that led to this post.
For Part II on this topic click HERE.
