One problem that I've been struggling with lately, and now more than ever, is why I do the things I do. I've found that when I do things, like trying to achieve some high goal in academics or something, I can't honestly tell myself that I'm not doing this so I can get the praise of others. Sometimes, I brag or show off because I feel like I need other people's approval to feel good. Can anyone relate?
In May of this year I went to a retreat called JAM, and the speaker told us about how when we do things for praise, it just leaves us empty, and doesn't do anything for us in the end. He told us about how it doesn't matter if we get praise or not from people, but since God made us the way we are and He is the reason that we are what we are, that's the only thing that matters. At the time I was extremely touched by that message because I really struggle with that. I feel like I need a big reminder like that once in a while(Ok, more often than that) so that I don't feel like an idiot when others can do things that I can't. It seems to be part of human nature not to be content with what we have or any abilities that God has given us, whether we know what they are or not.