Go Further

It's been a week since we talked about how the future is waiting, and we need to go for it, and hopefully you've gone for it (gone for it? went for it?). This week we're shifting the focus. Today we're going to talk about going further.

Let me say this. There is a difference between going farther and going further, and we'll get into that in just a second. If you want a literal grammatical explanation, check this out. But don't worry, we'll talk about it. The difference is subtle but critical, and it's a distinction worth taking a look at. So, let's shift into gear and get moving. It's time to go further. 

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
Proverbs 3:5 

I know, I know. I'm not an artist, but I hope you get my point. Let me try to explain with words, something I'm a little better at

Alright. By now you may (or may not) be wondering something like this. So, JB. What's the difference between going farther and going further? I thought those two words were, like, the same. Well, they're not quite the same, as similar as they are in spelling and pronunciation. Here's a graphic I put together to help illustrate the point. I hope you like it ​😉

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As you can see, the arrow representing going farther is pointing horizontally. When we go farther, we only traverse the surface. In a sense, we are pressing on towards... who knows. Going farther sometimes helps us feel good, like we're doing something, we're going somewhere, we're making things happen, we're making a difference. But, in reality, going farther simply means we are changing our physical location. Going farther is merely relocating. Skimming the surface. Wandering, almost. Which is all well and good, unless of course you want something more than just going farther in any direction.

Going further is different. It's when we take things from where they are, and we go deeper. We need to take our lives further. Maybe it's taking a relationship further, and I don't just mean romantic relationships. Perhaps there's a friend in your life or a family member with whom you've shared a surface-level relationship that needs to develop into something a little more significant. Maybe you've been doing well in school, you have good enough grades, but you can take your academics further. You could even have some sort of God-given gift that you haven't fully explored, like playing an instrument or singing or writing or anything. Taking these things in your life further could just make the difference.

When we decide to go further, we begin to positively shift the trajectory of our lives. By pressing on, going further, pushing deeper, we begin to really see what God has in store for us. Life gets better. Here's a little personal note from JB and then we can be done. The scripture above, Proverbs 3:5, may not have an obvious correlation with the topic at hand. But this scripture resonated with me this week. I believe it's my time to take my relationship with God further. As I pray and seek His face, I continually remind myself that I need to trust in Him with my whole heart. I want to take my relationship with God further.

I encourage you to take a look at your life and find what you feel passionate about. Find that thing, whatever needs to be taken further. And then take it there.