January 8, 2026
The Bible is clear we are called to love others as we love ourselves. Try to convince a young adult they should live that truth. Young adulthood is a time of competition, races, job search, grades, love triangles; it’s a bare-knuckled fight from sunup to sundown. Why? Because we listen to our culture, we buy into a world of strife and playing catch-up. And then, once the hormones and the fear of missing out begin to lose their grip, we finally hear God. We stop the insanity. And we wonder why we didn’t do it much sooner.
Growing older brings unique challenges but they are not enough to tempt me to go back to my youth. I enjoy praying for others, cheering them on as they achieve goals and reap rewards and promotions. When in college or entering competitive job markets, we’re often encouraged to be cutthroat. We’re told ‘it’s a dog-eat-dog world,’ and ‘all is fair in love and war.’ God’s plan is different. He expects us to pray for our competition, to encourage them and even help them achieve their dreams. Life is not a big cherry pie where only some people get a slice. If we prepare for our own race, incorporating honesty, kindness and integrity along the way, if we refuse to cheat or cut corners in order to win, God will handle the way things turn out. He rewards faith and He rewards righteousness.
Lord God, I am grateful Your design for life makes room for compassion and mercy. Rivalry, especially when it involves cheating or lying, leaves me feeling unclean, unable to celebrate my own accomplishments. I enjoy exhorting others without fearing there will not be sufficient blessings to go around. You are the God of more than enough. You are the God of grace and provision. Thank you for showing us another way. May I always believe promotion and supply come from You, Lord God. May I always trust you instead of relying on myself for success.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV