“But rejoice, all who take refuge in You, sing for joy forever! And may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. For You bless the righteous person, LORD.”—Psalm 5:11–12 NASB

Sergei Rachmaninoff dreamed of becoming a composer. When he was only 19, he graduated from the Moscow Conservatory, winning a gold medal for his opera Aleko. Despite these successes, he struggled with self-doubt and had bouts of depression. In particular, he suffered wounds from critical comments after the debut of his first symphony. After the Russian Revolution of 1917, he left his homeland, dividing his time between homes in Switzerland and the United States. Although still dreaming of concentrating on composing, he spent much of his life as a conductor and a pianist. Looking back, he once reflected, “I have never been able to make up my mind as to what was my true calling.” He admitted being constantly troubled that “in venturing into too many fields, I may have failed to make the best use of my life.” Many people, including many Christians, face the same kind of uncertainty and question the decisions they have made. They aren’t sure how to spend their time and energy. The Bible makes clear that God wants us to be able to trust in Him and be at peace, to be filled with joy, not doubt and uncertainty, and to know He will guide us. Today, remember that God loves you and has a plan for your life. Commit your way to Him and let Him direct your path. Then serve Him faithfully in every situation you face with all your energy.

Reflection Question: How do you plan to spend your time and talents for God this week?

“My mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge. And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind.”—Ecclesiastes 1:16–17 NASB

Known as a brilliant philosopher, Thomas Hobbes concluded that most people were motivated by “a perpetual and restless desire for power.” Born in 1588 in England, he came to distrust democracy. Convinced by his conclusions, he believed that society needed strong leadership. His ideas helped shape the political culture of his time. They have continued to be influential in the realms of politics, the military, education, and business throughout the past four centuries. Instead of looking to God, he believed that every person was his own judge. He felt that “good and evil are names that signify our appetites and aversions.” Throughout history, many have been like Hobbes, confident in themselves and trusting their conclusions. Like Hobbes, many have thought that strong leaders are necessary to solve the world’s problems. Like the preacher in Ecclesiastes saw, many think they can find satisfaction through the pursuit of power. But the Bible warns that all human effort is merely chasing the wind. Only God can provide lasting satisfaction and meaning. And only He can provide solutions. Don’t waste your life chasing the wind or trusting the passing things of this world. Only God can give you true fulfillment and joy. Only He can provide lasting peace and the answers you need. Trust in Him. Spend your life seeking to please Him.

Reflection Question: Examine your life for things that are chasing after the wind.