DAY 16 — Made to Make a Difference

One of our deepest needs is the need for contribution (Thirst-Quenching Essential #4)—to know our lives matter.

William Wilberforce, the man who led the movement to abolish the slave trade in England, didn’t start out that way. Before Christ, he filled his days with leisure, parties, and self-indulgence. But once he came to know the Lord, he realized how much time he had wasted. His urgent prayer became: “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

We have the same need. But when it’s not met in Christ, we chase substitutes: the perfect Pinterest-worthy life, chasing followers online, or simply retreating into our own bubble. These things might bring applause for a moment, but they never satisfy. At the end, we risk arriving in heaven having missed God’s plan for our lives altogether.

That’s why Jesus told His disciples:

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” —John 15:8 NIV

Paul prayed the same way. He wasn’t just checking a box—he repeatedly prayed for believers to live lives that were “worthy of the Lord… bearing fruit in every good work,” (Colossians 1:10 KJV). And while much of God’s will is the same for all of us—loving others, obeying His Word—there is also a personal thread woven into each of our callings.

The challenge is learning to discern between what is good and what is God’s best.

I was reminded of this walking along the beach with my daughters. We found a starfish—not in the wide-open ocean, but floating in a shallow puddle leftover from a child’s sandcastle. Twenty feet away stretched the vast sea, yet the starfish was content in a puddle.

How often do we do the same? Settling for “good enough” when God has called us to swim in the depths of His purposes.

My friend, don’t settle for splashing in puddles when God made you to swim in the ocean.

Drink Deep

Where are you tempted to settle for “good enough” instead of God’s highest and best? Today, pray Paul’s words in Colossians 1:9–10 and ask God to fill you with wisdom to discern what pleases Him most.