Time is the great equalizer. We each get 24 hours in a day, 365 days in a year. No more, no less. What we choose to do with that time is what sets us apart — not in terms of competition, but in purpose. Every moment is an opportunity. And every choice we make about how we use our time shapes who we become.
There’s a tension many of us wrestle with — the tension between striving and abiding.
Striving is what we do when we pour our time, energy, and focus into chasing something — success, recognition, money, influence. It’s an endless pursuit of gain. The challenge is that even when we gain some or all of it, it never feels like enough. Striving can become a treadmill that never stops, always promising more but never offering true satisfaction.
Abiding, on the other hand, is different. Abiding is about being rooted. It’s about choosing to be content and present — making the most of what we’ve been given, and trusting God with the results. It’s not passive. It still involves work, growth, and goals. But it’s work done from a place of peace and purpose, not pressure.
Want success in your career? Abide by stewarding the work in front of you today. Be faithful in the small things. Learn from every experience. Trust that God knows the path ahead even if you don’t see it all clearly yet.
Want financial success? Steward your resources with wisdom and generosity. Celebrate what you have and give God the glory for any increase.
Want more influence? Be honest. Be humble. Share both your victories and your mistakes. Influence grows when people see authenticity and are encouraged by it.
Most of us aren’t carrying around gifts or talents that are wildly uncommon. What’s unique isn’t necessarily what we’re good at — it’s how we apply it to the life we’ve been given. The circumstances we walk through, the people we encounter, and the ways we respond — that’s what makes our story unique. And when God is at the center of it all, even the most ordinary moments become sacred.
A counselor once told me, “I don’t think God cares so much about what we choose to do.” He was talking about career paths, and he followed it up by saying, “As long as we’re living by His principles and letting His light and love shine through us.” That stuck with me.
Because at the end of our lives, it won’t matter nearly as much how many titles we held, how much money we made, or how many people followed us. What will matter most is how well we loved — how we showed up for our people, how we told the truth when it counted, how we celebrated others, and how we modeled love, integrity, and faith for those who came after us.
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