Goals Are Doable With Christ

As humans, we have the tendency to look at others and wonder “how is it that they are happy, successful, good looking, or have a lovely family?” All while condemning ourselves as failures. We often notice that the grass seems greener on the other side and rather than cultivate our own grass, we get discouraged. What makes a believer triumphant is his/her ability to see and trust in God as the perfecter of his/her goals.

I have taken to gardening since being home from COVID-19. For nearly one year prior to this period, we have been struggling to grow 3 banana trees. Two trees eventually died, but one held on despite looking feeble. Many of you may remember one of Moses’ sermons where he referenced our struggle. 

To make matters worse, both of our neighbors, beside and behind us, have banana trees that could be pictured in magazines or adopted by the Chiquita company. I would go and water “the little banana tree that could” and wonder when it would be it’s turn to thrive like all the others around it. 

After months of not seeing any growth in the tree I began to accept that it would die like the other two and blame the soil for not having enough nutrients. I gave up on the goal of gaining any return from the tree.

Then something amazing happened. I was lead to go to the nursery and purchase some fertilizer. I know you said “duh” in your mind, this should have been obvious to me, but it wasn’t. I clearly would never have figured it out had God not guided me in this way. Since then I have fertilized every two weeks.

The changes in “the little banana tree that could” is amazing! It grew much taller, it’s leaves are much greener and bigger. It is soon ready for the cover of Vogue (Gardening Edition).

This little tree exemplifies how we as humans can look and get discouraged at others achieving their goals while we seem stuck. We desire progress but it constantly eludes us while being besties with others around us. 

Proverbs 12:11 says “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense” (NIV). 

We get so caught up looking at the outward fruit of others, how their lives seem to line up, not realizing the time and effort it took to manifest those results. I will say something, that on face value sounds horrible. The thing that keeps us back from our goals many times is jealousy that others have achieved theirs.

As we take the necessary steps to obtain our goals we must keep our eyes on God; the perfecter of goals. This is very difficult to do. It’s easier to look left and right rather than up. 

But Psalms 127:1 puts it clearly “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain” (NIV). Likewise, Proverbs 16:3 admonished is to “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (NIV).

These verses make it clear; if we work at our goals with our eyes focused on Christ, we will achieve them.

This is my hope today for you and I; to follow Christ’s lead while working towards our goals.