But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 NIV
Essential jobs, essential workers, essential supplies. It seems like essential is the word of the year.
But, what do we consider essential in our lives? Or better yet, what should be essential?
Before my injury, I had placed sports in the center of my life; they were my focal point and the most essential. Everything else looked small in comparison, and I found myself neglecting certain aspects of my life. But the problem with placing something like sports in the center of everything, is that they can be taken away.
I had to reevaluate my life, and once I was able to do that, I was able to understand what was truly important. The things that I was previously neglecting, became larger and I could see that they were more essential than I had thought. I realized that I had lost sight of Jesus; that He wasn't where He should be in my life anymore.
Once I made that realization, I was able to make Jesus the center of my life again, and it changed everything! I gained this indescribable peace and joy that carried me through my injury. I was able to see the lessons God was teaching me in a whole new light. And, my life became more stable.
Imagine a puzzle, with one huge piece missing. The smaller pieces surrounding the hole represent different aspects of your life, and the hole represents the place where Jesus's piece should go. If you place a smaller piece in the empty spot, it can't hold the puzzle together. Everything will fall apart if you try to move it. But, if you place Jesus's piece in the opening, it holds the puzzle together perfectly. The puzzle is stable and will not fall apart.
Your life is just like the puzzle and God is calling you to put Him in the right spot. Although you may think other things are important too, God is the most essential and nothing will ever top Him. His spot always belongs in the center of our puzzle.
God is a jealous God and He wants to be the center of our lives. He wants our eyes fixed on Him because He is essential. If we make the decision to place Him above all else, we receive everything He has to offer. And friend, He offers so much!