Free Of Me: Why Life Is Better When It’s Not All About YouSample

The Best News on Earth

There are two ways of saying, “It’s not about you.” One is a rebuke, a finger-wagging sentiment. But there is another way of saying it, and hearing it too: “It’s not about you” can be freedom. The friend who rejected you, the parent who hurt you, the boss who insulted you, the neighbor who was rude to you—it’s not about you. Their brokenness, their cold, piercing words; none of that was about you, but them. When your house isn’t as big as you’d like it to be, or your ministry isn’t as successful, or your name isn’t as well known, thank goodness it’s not about you. Your marriage, your calling, your life here on earth, none of it is about you. It’s all about God, from the first to the last, and that is some of the best news on earth. 

When you make things about you that are not about you, it’s a terrible burden. Deep down, we all know that if we could stop trying to people-please, stop trying to measure up, stop focusing on our flaws, and stop dwelling on rejection, life would be a lot easier. If we could only focus a little less on ourselves and a little more on God, our shoulders would feel so much lighter. But the challenge is, how? 

Shifting your focus off of yourself and onto God is much harder than it sounds. As broken people, our gaze naturally drifts inward, making vanity a tough pattern to shake. Once I was able to see my own self-preoccupation—both the allure and the peril of it—God took me on a long journey to freedom. He taught me how to adjust my sight back onto him, and it literally changed my life. Once I grasped the truth that life is not about me and shifted my focus onto Christ, it became the song of my heart, one I can’t stop singing to others. 

I know from my own experience that it’s hard to look straight in the face of your vanity, but it’s how we break the spell of self. And oh how it is worth it! May God shine on the hidden places in your heart and grant you the courage to see yourself honestly. 

Why do you think realizing “it’s not about you” could be freeing?