Stay Focused on Your Own Path

I’ve been thinking about ‘paths’ lately and I haven’t been able to get this out of my head. So many of us focus on other people and what they’re doing in life, instead of focusing on ourselves and the path God has for us. This struck me: When we follow Jesus, we’re all following the same Person, but we’re not all following the same path. There’s such a big temptation for us to focus on everyone else’s path instead of our own. When we focus on someone else’s path, we start questioning things. Why don’t I have that giftedness? Why aren’t my parents still married? Can you believe he’s dating her? Can you believe she’s wearing that? There’s a story in John 21 where Jesus tells us to embrace the path we’re on. Don’t worry about someone else’s path. “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” —John 21:18-22 Jesus did not come just to forgive you. He didn’t come just so you could go to Heaven. He came to redeem you. He came to give you purpose. And He invites us to follow Him. To be obedient to the path he’s put us on. What’s the next right thing to do on your path? I don’t know what the next right thing is for you to do on the path God has put you on. I know what the next right thing is for me on my path. And I know that if I focus on your path and start to get judgmental and envious of your path, in that moment I’m not living the life that Jesus has for me. The path God has called you to travel is uniquely for you. Nobody else can walk that path but you. I saw this video and I laughed so hard—it’s a good reminder for me to not worry about your path, but to focus on mine.