There’s a song that has been on repeat in my mind this summer. It’s called, “You Get the Glory” by Jonathan Traylor. The chorus goes like this:
You get the glory from this
No matter what I have to go through in this world
As long as you get the glory from this
It’s a humbling refrain sung from a sacrificed heart. The words carry a depth of understanding of how this life was designed to be lived – for His glory alone.
It sounds selfish on the surface. Why would a God who claims to be loving and kind create a world that is entirely centered around giving Him glory? Even the rocks were designed to praise Him. Pretty egotistical, right?
At least in some sense of the word, it is true. He is self-centered in that He does want all of the glory. He created the world to revolve around Himself. He’s obsessed with receiving every heart and all the honor. He is jealous and will not share the praise. (Ex. 34:14, Deut. 4:24, Ez. 39:25)
Here’s the thing though, He is worthy of it all. He alone has the right to be egotistical. Any human that tried that would be called out for their pride and would likely be humbled pretty quickly by their own failings. But God? He has a solid track record going for Him.
Even so, there’s something in that self-centered design that grated on me. Fine, He’s worthy, so I guess I have to worship Him. *insert eye-roll* That led to serving and dedication out of obligation rather than joyful delight. However, my response changed drastically when I realized something…
Anything that brings Him glory simultaneously is for my good.
Woaaahhhhh. Now that is an incredible design! I can’t explain how exactly it works, but I’ve found it to be undeniably true. The more I die to myself and live for His glory, the more joy I find in life. The more I lay down my plans and follow His, the more I discover a fulfilling purpose. The more I sacrifice, the more good He gives.
Quick clarification: good does not equal easy or comfortable. Good can be incredibly painful and even feel unbearably hard. As a dear friend and World Race squadmate recently reminded me, there is a HUGE difference between fun and full (shoutout to Alli!). A good life that glorifies God may not be fun, but it will be fulfilling.
Sooooo, the next logical question is, how do we glorify God? Honestly, it’s pretty simple. You die. Your plans, your desires, your idols, your pride, your fear…it all must be surrendered on the altar. Anything that doesn’t glorify Him gets burned away. What’s left (most often, not much) is now a refined and purified tool or opportunity ready to be used for His glory and your good.
It’s always a trade. You give up something of yourself and He replaces it with more of Himself. Know this, nothing sacrificed for His glory will be returned empty. The sacrifice is worth it no matter how hard it feels in the moment. The struggle comes when we attempt to hold onto both our fleshly selves and His holy hand at once. Trust me, it doesn’t work. He offers the gift of His goodness and grace unconditionally, but it comes at the cost of yourself.
Okayyy, can I take a step back now and be really real? I’ve written and rewritten this blog in my mind for weeks because I am walking through a season of experiencing this personally. I’ve struggled to find the words to describe the wrestling in my soul as I’ve questioned His goodness and how to live this out. Even though I don’t have it quite figured out, I chose to write of His glory because He has made it so tangibly real to me.
This summer has been a tough one. It was marked by deep grief, sacrifice, and painful lessons. I see the goodness and faithfulness of His hand over each part, yet my heart still feels raw at times as the wounds continue to heal. I’ve been torn between sadness and hope. Through it all, the truth I’ve discovered is the cost of living for His glory is high, yet He is faithful to provide beauty and peace in the midst of the pain. He is always working for the good, no matter how long it takes me to recognize it.
I’m going to pause here. I have a few stories to share from this summer that will give more practical context, but this post is already long enough, so I’ll give you a break for now. 😉 Check back soon for part 2!
P.S. if you relate to this struggle and need to chat or someone to pray with, please don’t hesitate to reach out! You don’t have to walk alone. <3
