Seeking God in a Self-Obsessed World
Lately, when I look at the world around me, I feel a heaviness I’ve never quite experienced before. Everywhere I turn, I see a level of self-obsession and self-preservation that seems to overshadow compassion. Our culture has become centered on instant gratification, quick money, quick approval, quick success. Patience is rare, empathy is dwindling, and genuine care for others feels like a fading virtue.
And perhaps what hurts the most is how little we see people seeking God anymore.
The fear of the Lord that reverent awe that grounds our lives and shapes our decisions seems almost nonexistent. Yet Scripture gives us a simple, powerful command: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). Not seek ourselves, not seek worldly validation, not seek short-term reward but seek Him. The One who knows what we need long before we do. The One who created us with purpose, with intention, with love.
When I think about how far society has drifted from this truth, my heart aches. The selfishness around us and sometimes within us can be overwhelming. The Bible teaches us to carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), but too often we become the source of someone else’s pain rather than the support God calls us to be. We are living through a true crisis of humanity, where so many are hurting and so few feel seen.
But even in this, I hear God whisper to my heart.
I want to be a blessing. I want to be a reason someone feels the love, kindness, and compassion that seems missing in our world. So every day, I ask God to soften my heart to make my words gentle, my actions gracious, and my presence healing. Not because I am perfect, but because I want others to see Him through me.
And the beautiful truth is this: when we seek God’s grace to love others better, we open ourselves to receiving His grace in our own lives. When we choose compassion over convenience, humility over ego, patience over frustration, something shifts. God meets us in that place. He fills the gaps we cannot fill on our own. He transforms the parts of us that the world has hardened.
In a culture obsessed with self, may we be people obsessed with God.
May we be reminders of His love, His gentleness, His kindness, and His truth.
May our lives reflect the light the world desperately needs.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
In a world that feels increasingly cold and self-focused, soften our hearts. Help us seek You first in all things. Fill us with Your compassion so we can carry the burdens of others with love and humility. Let our words, our actions, and our presence reflect who you are. Open our eyes to see those who are hurting, open our ears to hear their needs, and open our hearts to respond with grace. Transform us so that others may see You in us. Use our lives as a light in a dark world.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen