I used to only trust myself. I thought happiness meant money and success. I was distracted by the things of this world and thought if I could just check off everything on my list of things to accomplish, I would find the joy and peace I was searching for.

I spent years checking things off my list. I got married, had kids, a beautiful home, and my own business. I was financially secure and had hit my goal weight. Everything was checked off, but I still felt empty. Why? What more could I want? I looked around at everything I had accomplished and thought, “Is this it?”

C.S. Lewis said:

“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

What I realized is I tried to please myself by making “mud pies in a slum”, ignorantly thinking my checklist would bring me joy. I was too easily pleased with the idea that happiness came from my own effort, and in accumulating the things of this world. It was actually distracting me from true joy, “a holiday at the sea.”

Some people said I needed Jesus in order to experience joy, but I didn’t know how Jesus was going to help much. Besides, I thought people who followed Jesus were weak. I didn’t think there was any evidence to support Jesus or the Bible, and nobody really knew if it was true. I thought people just blindly followed Jesus because that is what they were told to do. I wasn’t going to fall for all of that nonsense.

Then someone invited me to a new church in our area. For some reason, I went. I heard Bob Merritt speak. He actually made sense. His messages sunk in and caused me to question everything I thought I knew about Jesus, God, and Christianity. I spent years looking for historical proof for Jesus and then trying to figure out what it meant to follow Jesus. I believed.

I rebuilt my life with Jesus as the foundation. I accepted the invitation to a ‘holiday at the sea.’ I was finally finding true joy and purpose in life.

This uncertain world can leave us feeling like there is no one to trust but ourselves. It can leave us feeling empty and going after things that ultimately don’t matter. Chasing after our goals without Jesus is like chasing the wind. It’s a never-ending quest to try and catch what we think we are looking for. When we catch it, it doesn’t satisfy, and we chase something else, sure that fulfillment is just around the corner.

Don’t get distracted by chasing the wind.

We all should be chasing Jesus. He leaves us fulfilled and able to find our purpose in this world. The uncertainty of our circumstances doesn’t affect the peace found with Jesus. The whole world around us can crumble, but we know there is something better than this world.

Jesus offers an eternity of joy and peace. He will change our perspective on what’s going on in this life. This life isn’t the ultimate destination. It’s a brief stop along the way.

Stop making mud pies in the slum, and take the offer of a holiday at the sea. Let Jesus in and you will find true joy and peace.

Nicole Nelson is a wife, mom, hairstylist, and author of “Cursed with Common Sense: How I realized thinking you’re too smart for God is really dumb.” She hopes you find her writing relatable, entertaining, and thought provoking. Her goal is to encourage you to explore your own beliefs and ultimately help you find a relationship with Jesus.