Set Your Mind

Lately the discipline of setting my mind “on things above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2) has been a bit more challenging than usual.

On top of all of the COVID concerns, racial tensions, and societal unrest in our nation, I recently learned that my position as a school counselor at a local private school was eliminated. Since this happened, I have found myself spending a good deal of time trying to figure out what I should be doing in regard to future employment, what I *really* want to do with my career, and where we should send our boys to school this year, now that our budget is currently tighter than normal.

These are obviously important things to consider, but I often allow my thoughts to wander past consideration and head straight to obsession. I want to plan. I want to know what my work life is going to look like in the coming weeks (or months). In short, I want to know how all of these concerns are going to work out.

Paul exhorts the believers in Colossae (and all of us) to “set our minds on things above” because our lives are “hidden with Christ in God”-- that is where our security lies. It does not lie in a job, or in the knowledge of what our life on earth is going to be like in the future (near or far). In this truth we can find peace and contentment.

I will probably always want to know what’s going to happen in my life, but I know that when I keep my mind focused on the character and promises of God instead of my questions, I will find rest.

My prayer for all of us facing uncertain times is that we would spend our mental energy getting to know Jesus better instead of trying to figure everything out. Knowing Jesus is a far better use of the minds God gave us.