What Really Matters | Encouragement from I John 2:15-17

March 9, 2026

I’ll be honest here…it’s been hard for me to focus my mind during pregnancy on reading scripture in the morning. The brain fuzz is intense, and the wonky emotions certainly don’t encourage a very spiritual “feeling.”

Yet God has been patiently drawing me back to His Word and reminding me that I need to hear His voice, and I am amazed at the grounding and stabilizing nature of His precious words to me. God’s words bring me back to reality. God’s words remind me of what really matters.

Today I would like to share a few thoughts from some well-known verses, I John 2:15-17.

In a recent read of this passage, I saw a hope and freedom to live fully right where God wants me. This passage brought into focus what really matters even if other elements of my life seem very out of focus and not where I want them to be.

Sometimes I can get myself all in a dither with thoughts such as

Have I accomplished enough in my life?

What if we never reach our dreams?

What if ________ never changes?

Yet, as so often happens when I’m still enough to listen, God’s Word comforts my heart and mind.

1Jo 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

The world has a lot of shiny, beautiful things to offer, yet what the world has to offer should not be my core focus. If I have sunk my whole purpose and being into the things of this world, do I really love God?

1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

My old nature (the lust of the flesh) tugs at my heart and mind every day, and it threatens and whines if it doesn’t get its own way. Oh, it’s a daily battle against this old flesh and its cravings.

The beautiful things (and even pictures of beautiful things) of this world constantly attempt to draw my heart away (the lust of the eyes). That “something better and more lovely” tempts me to be discontent with my many current blessings.

The desire to be seen, heard, and recognized so often propels my life’s goals and daily work (the pride of life). I want to be known and praised. I want the accolades and the honor. When nobody recognizes me or my work, I feel useless and small.

1Jo 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Yet...verse 17 enters like a beacon of hope against the struggles of this world and the darkness within my own heart. God has a purpose for my life with eternity in view. Now that brings hope and comfort!

Someday this world will pass away and all the things that I so desperately desire. But there is something that will last; there’s something that will stick around even when all human hopes and dreams have faded.  

If I focus on doing the will of God for my life, then I am investing in the eternal—something that will abide and never be stripped away from me.

Everything in my life may not be perfect, but that’s okay if I’m doing what God wants for me. There may be tasks that I just cannot seem to get to, but if I do God’s will, I’ve done enough for the day. There may be life goals that I never achieve, but if I achieve God’s goals, all is well.

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Friend, I hope you can take comfort in God’s Word and His will for your life! May the Lord bless you as you daily walk with Him.

-Ashley

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