We All Have Them

"All have what?" you ask.
Idols.
Now, before you start to think, "well she might, but I most certainly do not," hear me out.
Bitterness.
Jealousy.
Anger.
Passion.
Love.
Money.
Power.
Freedom.
Reputation.
Respect.
Comfort.
Success.
This is not an exhaustive list. These are just a few things that we, as imperfect human beings, long to have. Maybe we don't all desire to have each and every one of these, and maybe there are some that I didn't list that one of you may wish to achieve. The point is, every one of these things that we desire to have and try to achieve can very easily become the idol of our life. Our actions and thoughts are all in an effort to attain these or maintain them.
Now, when I think of idols, I think of the Israelites in Bible times or ancient cultures that bowed down to golden calves, hand crafted images, or people. The thought of television and money also pop into my mind thanks to childhood Bible school lessons that taught me to not allow the love of money or media control me. To me, television and money are a common idol in our culture. I never thought of the need for love or security or respect or power or (fill in the blank) as something we could bow down to, but how could they not be?
According to Webster's Dictionary, idol is used as a noun (person, place, thing, or idea) and is defined as a representation or symbol of an object of worship; a likeness of something; a form or appearance visible but without substance; an object of extreme devotion; a false concept.
Given that definition, anything can become an idol. I love the definition "a form or appearance visible but without substance." Any one of those listed above could easily fall under this definition. Pair that definition with the "object of extreme devotion," and we have a killer truth that so many of us are either unaware of or in denial about.
I am guilty of having one (and I'm sure there are many more) of these idols, and I didn't even realize it until recently. I idolize love and the desire to be loved, to be connected, to be desired. Honestly, what girl doesn't? I allow myself to focus on that way too much and it easily becomes the focal point of my thinking. I think more on that than on the God who has placed that desire in me.
Respect is another big one so easy to fall into. "Well, that person doesn't deserve my respect because they don't give me any."
Idols start out innocent, but they quietly creep up and make residence in our hearts and lives. Soon we begin to devise ways to achieve what we desire. We are willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill our desires, even if it includes stepping on other people or compromising our beliefs or promises. We do not trust that what we desire will come in time.
As a follower of Christ, I should believe in confidence that God will provide me the desires of my heart. My desires are to matter, to be loved and to know love. My desire is to make a difference in the lives of people and to feel connected to a person. I push people away afraid that they will take away that desire from me after letting me have a taste of it.
I fear rejection from others. Not only do I idolize love, but I also idolize my reputation. I want to be known as a wonderful person to others. Those two things sometimes do not go hand in hand, and I, in my finite and human mind, choose which one I think would be okay to compromise on.
By striving to attain these two things, love and reputation, I neglect to focus on the One who can actually give me all of those things. I allow my trust in him to diminish and my confidence in myself to increase. I allow myself to compromise my trust in Him which is equivalent to me simply running away from him. By taking matters into my own hands, I am spitting in his face and flat out telling him that I don't trust him.
I allow myself to think that I (an imperfect girl, selfishly seeking her own desires, striving to fulfill her little plans without seeing the big picture, and leaping into the big chasm of the unknown) can achieve my hearts desires without the One who placed them there. I allow myself to think that I am bigger and more capable than the God of this whole entire universe. I allow myself to be convinced that I am more equipped to face all the sharp turns, drops, mountains, and rapids without a map than the one who designed them all.
How foolish is that?
But, no matter how foolish I realize it to be, I still find myself turning back to myself and running from God. How do I fix this? Well, realizing and admitting that I do have idols in my life and that I am too prideful to get rid of them fully is a good first step.
It's not easy to admit that you have pride, but each and everyone of us who allow worry of something not happening control us and become our focus is guilty of pride. We proudly think that we are more capable whether we know it and realize it or not.
Change isn't easy, but it is possible. It is more than possible with the God of the impossible on our side. We are able to move a mountain with the strength of God, so to think that we could not overcome our fear with his help is..well... prideful. Change must come from the heart. It must be a sincere desire or else it will never take place. It's not easy. In fact, it's much harder than you realize at first, but change brings new beginnings that can be far better than what was before.
We all have those things we are holding onto, striving to reach with all that we are, but wouldn't it be so much easier to just let go and let God amaze us? He has so much in store for each and every one of us, but trusting ourselves more than Him will not open our eyes to those great things.