Every year when I read through the Bible, I find myself underlining words like "so they may know that I am God" "that My name be lifted up" "I will bring glory to Myself" (e.g. Ex 6:7, 2 Ki. 5:15; Ps 46:10; 2 Tim. 2:25). Throughout the Old-and-New Testaments, these words become the central theme and purpose for everything. All the events that happen and prophecies that are fulfilled point to one reason--that the world will see and know God for who He is. How crystal clear it becomes when we read His Word.

I find it's not so clear in real life, however. Like when things happen that hurt us or people offend us or events occur that are not for our good. Sometimes we witness to others, and they make fun of us. We work hard for God, then we get sick and die. We get passed over for job promotions, which go, instead, to ungodly people. Our finances never quite get out of the tank while we watch others prosper. Everyone seems to find their purpose in life but us. When these kinds of things happen, it's easy to get upset and question God.

But some time ago, I realized it's not about us! Imagine that!

Just as when we stress out about what we will wear and if our hair will look just right to a wedding we will attend, the wedding is not about us. It's about the bride! Our responsibility is to be there and honor her, not us.

Your job and mine on this earth is to bring honor to God in everything we do and say and think. If we get hurt in the process, so be it. It might be just part of the process, something that is necessary to bring Glory to Him or belief to a man or woman you know. Yes, there could be work from Satan going on in our lives when bad things happen. We need to recognize these and find victory over them.

But mostly, I believe that much of the uncomfortable, less-than-desirable events which occur are meant to keep our eye on the real feature Star of this life, and it isn't you or me. I also believe that we're never to get quite comfortable here because we're meant to keep longing for there.

When we first moved to Colorado Springs, I remember the day I made my first trip to Denver. I saw a sign with an arrow on the south end of the city that said "Grand Junction." I told my kids that I would like to go there some time.

Soon my opportunity came. I drove my daughter and four other 12-year-old girls to a soccer game in Grand Junction. It was then I realized that it wasn't just a pleasant excursion. Instead, it involved a couple hundred miles and lots of traffic, detours, and potholes. My job was not to concentrate on the length of the drive or the discomfort of the circumstances, it was to keep my foot on the pedal and my eyes straight ahead toward the destination.

Today's blog is as much a reminder to me as to you. We both need to realize, it--life and eternity--isn't about us. It's about God, and all we can do to turn all eyes on Him. This great truth will be accomplished whether we remember it or not. But if we do keep in mind that we're not the stars of the show, it will be easier to stop stressing about the wrong things, resist having an entitlement mentality, and keep concentrating on the right things, while we help others do the same.

So join with me as we refocus on the destination. Let's put our foot to the pedal and forget the distractions and discomforts. Let's stop thinking it's about us.

Let's live to bring Him all the glory.