“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
Sitting in my living room, I often drift off into my own thoughts. I wonder what other people are doing today and how much more they are living life to the fullest. Due to depression and fear, I often self-isolate myself. Self-isolation has caused me to miss out on a lot of life. I chose to stay in the safety of my home rather than face the outside world.
While many people think this is being cautious, it actually becomes controlling. Fear can control us to the point that we are immobile. I never thought I would come to a place such as this, yet here I am. Maybe you also find yourself in a similar place. Fear has kept you from truly living for far too long. This, in turn, leads us to fear we are going to miss out on life.
In truth, this is something that has often made me feel deep regret. Am I doing everything I should be doing? Am I truly making the most of every opportunity? What will I think about my life at the very end? Unfortunately, I don’t think I have a positive answer to any of these questions. Even if we think we have some areas under control in our lives, we might be missing out on the most important things.
Something that has become a goal of mine is to truly start enjoying the little moments in life. Rather than always thinking others have it better than me, I’m starting to recognize all the blessings God has given me. Maybe I don’t have a prestigious home, a well-paying job, or a tight-knit circle of friends, but I do have God. When I’m at my breaking point, I remember Him and He helps me find myself again.
I’m often depressed and saddened by how my life has turned out, but God always reminds me that my story isn’t over. It is just beginning. Whether we are in our twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties, or a hundred years old, God still has a purpose for our lives. This is a purpose that only we can fulfill. By knowing this, it can help us have more hope for life and know that good things are ahead.
Due to my past, I have often wondered if hard times are awaiting me behind every corner. I don’t tend to have smooth-sailing experiences in my life; therefore, I normally expect the worst. I trust God and His plans; however, I also know that His plans are not easy. They can be hard and challenging at times, yet He knows what we need. Even if it might not be what we want, He will give us what we need.
Sometimes we might miss out on things we really wanted to do, such as being there for a loved one before they passed away, catching up with friends, or finding the one. This can cause us to feel as though we have many wasted and missed chances. If this is how you are feeling today, know that God has you right where He wants you. You didn’t ruin your life nor did you ruin His will for your life. God’s plans and purposes will prevail no matter what.
The writer of Hebrews says, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). As this passage tells us, we need to hold faithfully to the hope we have in the Lord because He is faithful. Even though we are not promised a painless life on earth, we are looking forward to our eternal home with the Lord in heaven. All of the disappointment and regret we feel today will not endure forever.
There will come a day when we feel full of joy, love, and happiness. Sadly, on earth, we can continue to suffer from fear of missing out, but we can avoid this by making the most of every opportunity and trusting Jesus. Life might not be exactly what we want it to be, but this life is not our final destination. Our eternal home is with God in heaven, and we can look forward to this with a heart of hope.
Let's pray:
“Dear God, I often struggle with a fear of missing out. I feel as though I have missed out on much in life. Thank You for helping me know that I’m exactly where you want me to be. I place my life in Your hands, Amen.”
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/katleho Seisa
Related Resource: Praying Through Psalm 51: Restoring the Joy of Salvation
Can a heart stained by the worst kinds of betrayal ever truly be restored?? When the world demands justice, does God offer a different way back? In this devotional on Psalm 51, we step into the wreckage of King David’s greatest failure—the affair with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. We move beyond a simple apology to uncover the specific Hebrew anatomy of David's confession: Pesha (rebellion), Avon (twistedness), and Hata'ah (missing the mark). We explore the shocking reality that under Mosaic Law, David should have faced the death penalty, yet he boldly asks God to "create a way" where the law offered none. If you’ve ever felt like your mistakes have disqualified you from God’s presence, or that you are not worthy due to your past mistakes, this episode offers a roadmap from guilt to gladness. Come ready to run toward the Father who doesn't just want your perfection, but your broken and contrite heart. If this episode helped you connect with God, be sure to follow Praying Christian Women on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Tuesday, 29 October 2024.
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