How many times have you been distracted by things that really don’t matter? Sometimes, it can be so easy and so natural to focus on issues and matters that won’t matter two weeks down the line. But because we get so caught up into it, we may use our precious energy and time on those matters and at the end of it all, wonder if it was worth it. Then again, you may be the type of person who puts all your eggs into one basket, a basket that has a big whole in the bottom. Pursuing things that don’t matter or trusting that if you just have “x” you’ll be satisfied. And you hyper-focus on acquiring that one thing, hoping that it will complete you. That sort of situation is what I call chasing the wind.
It’s pretty natural for us to chase after things. After all, the world tells us we need titles, accomplishments, certain people in our lives, certain possessions. The world via media, education, etc. tells us that we need things to be better than we are, to matter. Yet, that’s not the case. And oftentimes, the more you get and the higher you climb, the more you want and the more you wish to reach the stars. I am not saying that you shouldn’t have dreams, though! I don’t want you to take this in that way. What I am saying is that you shouldn’t be so focused on getting that you forget to enjoy where you are in the present. Chasing the wind often means that you cannot enjoy today, that you don’t see how blessed you are in the moment and that you can’t find joy and happiness because you’re so focused on what you don’t have instead of being grateful for what you do have. When you chase after titles or wealth or even people, it gets really easy to lose sight of what’s truly important: God.
And one of the many awesome things about God is that He wants us to have joy. And if you have ever been in a “chasing the wind” situation, you can agree that there is no joy to be found there. For those who do grab hold of whatever it is they sought after, there’s often little celebration or gratification and it is on to the next thing. It just doesn’t give the sense of purpose of fulfillment that you thought when you first began the endeavor.
Is there anything you’ve been so focused on that you haven’t taken time to stop and smell the proverbial roses? Anything that’s held you captive? Whether it be a person or title or wealth, it is important that we keep things in their proper place. And none of these things should have hold on you. The Bible tells us that God doesn’t want us bound (Galatians 5:1). And that means to anything. But it is up to us to choose freedom. It may seem like a weird thing to say, I mean who would choose bondage? But sometimes we choose that path without even realizing it. Sometimes you have the best intentions when you start off, you’re seeking a better life for you and your family or another wonderful goal. But then, the goal begins to drive you and it begins to take over your thoughts and leave you feeling ungratified. And that’s when it shifts from a goal to a weight and we are to lay aside every weight (Hebrews 12:1).
We can have goals, we can be driven, but we can’t let our goals turn into our chains. So, here’s something I hope you think about: Instead of spending so much time chasing after that thing, what else could you be doing? Could you be spending more time with loved ones? Learn a new skill? Maybe go for a walk or exercise? Time is limited and we don’t know how much time we have left, so do you really want to spend all of yours pursuing something that doesn’t satisfy?
