The Top of the Ladder

 

By Andrea Merrell

Splendor and majesty are before Him;

strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

1 Chronicles 16:27 NIV

 

The woman (we’ll call her Liz) fought her way up the proverbial corporate ladder. She lied, cheated, and manipulated her way up each rung—thinking her own personal nirvana waited at the top. Things would be perfect. She would be in charge. The boss. Happiness awaited. Success.

What Liz found when she reached the top of that ladder was loneliness. Isolation. Disappointment. Because she had bulldozed her way over others, she experienced loss of respect from her peers. She had no feeling of fulfillment. No peace. And no joy.

In Jesus Calling, Sarah Young writes that “people who reach the top of the ladder career-wise are often surprised to find emptiness awaiting them.” Liz found this to be true.

Lasting peace and joy are found only in our relationship with the Lord. To enjoy true fulfillment means surrendering ourselves completely to Him—spirit, soul, and body—and walking the path He lays out before us. Trying to forge our own path apart from God’s plan for our lives does not typically end well. The Bible says that promotion comes from the Lord (Psalm 75:6). He promotes us as He sees fit, without hurting others in the process. That’s the only ladder we want to be on.

What ladder are you climbing?

 

(Photo courtesy of Unsplash and Cesar Cid.)

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Lasting peace and joy are found only in our relationship with the Lord. Trying to forge our own path apart from His plan does not typically end well. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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