"I Will Always Love You"

While I was driving and listening to music the other day, the song “I Will Always Love You”, sung by Whitney Houston came on the radio.  I have always loved Whitney’s voice; she had one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard.  And because of that beautiful voice, she had everything she ever wanted…..in the physical realm anyway.  As a famous singer, she sold over 86 million albums which gave her fame and fortune.  That fame and fortune opened the door for her to become an actress, which produced even more fame and fortune for her.  In the world’s eyes, Whitney Houston had arrived…..she had it all…..all she ever needed or wanted.  

It seems that she should have been on top of the world…..she should have achieved the happiness that we all desire in life…..she should have been filled with joy and peace knowing that she had everything she could have ever wanted.  But when you read her biography, it doesn’t appear that she had that happiness, joy and peace that everyone desires.  Even though she had “arrived” by the world’s standards, she struggled.  

She struggled with cocaine, alcohol and prescription drugs.  This struggle robbed her of the happiness, joy and peace that she should have had with the life she had obtained through her fame and fortune.  This struggle ultimately robbed her of her life, as she succumbed to an early death at age 48 in 2012; a death that was fueled by her drug and alcohol abuse. Whitney Houston lost everything that she had worked so hard to obtain because she lost her focus.  Her focus turned away from her career and turned to drugs and alcohol. 

As I listened to her sing that day, I began to think about her life.  I thought about how she “had it all” but was so unhappy that she had to turn to drugs and alcohol.  She had every material possession she could ever want, but those material possessions were not enough to bring her sustaining happiness, joy and peace.  

The Bible says that our happiness, joy and peace come when we put on focus on our relationship with God.  “Happy is the man that fears (God) always).”  Proverbs 28:14. 3   “…those who trust the Lord will be joyful.”  Proverbs 16:20.“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you (God).”  Isaiah 26:3 

After thinking about Whitney Houston’s life, I had to ask myself, “Where is my focus?  Am I looking for happiness, joy and peace in the world or I am looking for it in my relationship with God through my personal relationship with Jesus?  Are material possessions my priority or is my personal relationship with Jesus my priority?” 

If you are struggling with life…with drugs…with alcohol…with looking to material possessions to find your happiness, joy and peace…..I encourage you today to turn your focus to Jesus.  Invest in your personal relationship with Him on a daily basis by reading and memorizing The Word, “casting your cares on Him because He cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7), praying and “trusting Him with all your heart.” (Proverbs 3:5)

If your focus is on Jesus and the world doesn’t look quite so appealing to you anymore, I rejoice with you!  I rejoice with you as your desire for material possessions, fame and fortune grow smaller and your relationship with Jesus grows bigger.  I rejoice with you as your happiness, joy and peace that sustains you through all situations becomes the norm instead of the “sought after”.  I rejoice with you!

As missionaries, I know that it is difficult to sacrifice those material possessions that bring comfort into our world.  I recently read the book, “The Hole In Our Gospel” by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision.  In his book he gave a very clear picture of the material possession sacrifice that missionaries go through to be in the field ministering to their brothers and sisters in Christ.  I was so encouraged and inspired by reading his story of God’s call on his life.  I so appreciated that he was willing to tell his story so that others could be encouraged through his walk with our Lord.

And so, today, I want to encourage you to “Keep going for Jesus.”  God sees your sacrifice.  He says in Hebrews 6:10-12 “God is not unjust.  He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.  We want you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.  We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”

Encouraging you today in your walk with Christ and praying for you.

God Bless You As You Live For Christ!