John 6:26-27,35 (NLT)
“26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval. 35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
The more uncertain life becomes, the more we desire a foundation that anchors us no matter what we face. Many people are chasing after what they believe will bring them satisfaction, success, status, and the kind of relationships they desire. Ultimately, they find that these things didn’t bring them the foundation they wanted in their lives. Instead, the chase left them feeling empty and depleted. This can end up being a negative cycle that never delivers on the promises the world makes. But the life that our beloved and powerful Savior, Jesus Christ offers—why that’s a different reality altogether. It’s rich, deep, and steady. We can count on it no matter how crazy the world gets.
When many people come to the Lord Jesus and give their lives to him, they sometimes expect that life will be problem-free thereafter. When seasons of hardship come knocking at their doors, they become disillusioned and disappointed in the faith, thinking somehow our beloved Lord has failed them. That can never be the case.
A fulfilling life in Christ isn’t about having an existence that is free of trials and tribulations. It’s about discovering a peace that passes all understanding, as Philippians 4:7 tells us. He gives us a peace and joy that run deeper than our circumstances; it doesn’t shake when the storms come. He wants us to believe with all our hearts that all things are possible when we trust God wholeheartedly and fully surrender to Him. Yet too often, we allow our hearts and minds to be consumed by perishable things. We stress over situations we can’t control, chase after temporary comforts, and cling to things that were never meant to satisfy us. But that’s not how God wants us to live. He calls us to seek what’s eternal—to go after spiritual treasures and realize that Jesus, the Bread of Life, is truly all we need.
Our victory is in Christ, not in anything else. This is the truth, yet if we were to pull back the curtain on our deepest thoughts and desires, some of us would find that we’re placing expectations on people that only Christ was ever meant to fulfill. For some, we’re not looking for a partner—we’re looking for a savior. And that’s why our hearts feel so heavy and unsettled. We’ve misdirected our dependence.
We’re not understanding that the core of our being must be fully committed to team ‘Jesus’, with nothing standing in the way of our allegiance to him. He tells us in Luke 14:26-27 (NLT), “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.” This kind of commitment may sound intense—but it’s the path to God’s love, light, liberty, and life. When Christ is at the center, everything else finds its proper place.
A fulfilling life in Christ starts with surrender and it continues to grow as we seek God first in all that we do. 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT) reminds us, “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” This is not something we can do every now and again; we must consistently examine that our devotion to God through Christ is genuine. Jesus doesn’t just want to be part of our lives—he wants to be our life; for he is life itself. And when we fully say yes to him, we’ll find that what he gives is more than enough. This is the fulfilling life in Christ, and when we’re anchored in it, everything will beautifully fall into place. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“A Fulfilling Life in Christ”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack and KLizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.