Our Treasure Is In Heaven

My husband and I endured another failed child placement last week. We’ve had so many potential foster-to-adopt children not work out at this point that it’s felt like God doesn’t want us to have a family, despite our deep desire to have one.

A close friend of mine had a similar experience of her vocation not coming to fruition as she expected. We lamented our shared experiences of discouragement and confusion regarding God’s plan for our lives. We felt called in a particular direction only to have it not work out -- at least not yet.

In the midst of that conversation, she said to me, “I think our treasure is in heaven.” It spoke to my core.

When it seems like everyone around you, especially friends and family has the treasures of this world like the perfect husband, the career they desired, the family they dreamt of, and the possessions and experiences they’ve always wanted, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that God has forgotten about you.

Here’s another way of looking at the situation: Maybe your treasures aren’t coming in this life, but rather the next.

As Christians and/or Catholics, we believe that this life isn’t all there is. Our lives should point to the next life, like Jesus and all the great saints and apostles.

Maybe the witness of our life doesn’t come in the form of receiving all of God’s blessings here on earth, but rather trusting in God’s blessings to come in heaven and not letting it derail us spiritually from leading a holy, faithful life.