For a long time, I struggled with the phrase, “Give God the glory.” My mother used to say it constantly, especially during moments when I longed for her gratitude. As her full-time caregiver, I poured myself into serving her, yet she never thanked me—only God. It drove me crazy. Why couldn’t she see my efforts? Why was her praise reserved for someone invisible when I was right there?
Looking back, I see how much my ego was at play. Despite the progress I had made on my spiritual journey, my need for acknowledgment blinded me to a greater truth: she was right. If I had joined her in giving God the glory for my ability to care for her, I wouldn’t have felt so hurt at a personal, 3D level. Instead, I would have seen that the strength and patience I showed were gifts from Him, not something I achieved on my own.
But that understanding didn’t come easily.
Ego whispers lies that our value comes from being noticed and appreciated. It makes us feel slighted when others fail to meet our expectations. Yet, as I’ve grown closer to God, I’ve realized that every good thing I’ve done, every ounce of strength I’ve had, has come from Him. Without His grace, I couldn’t have served my mother as I did.
Still, my relationship with her was complicated. She had hurt me deeply throughout my life, loving me in a way that often felt harsh and judgmental. Her devotion to God was steadfast, but it came across as cold. She reminded me more of God’s damnation than His love.
As I’ve walked further along my spiritual path, I’ve become determined not to replicate the judgmental love I experienced. I understand now that my mother’s harshness came from a place of concern for my eternal soul, but her delivery alienated me.
This is where I must tread carefully in my own life. As I grow in faith, I’ve felt called to distance myself from certain energies and behaviors that don’t align with my walk with God. Yet, I never want my choices to make people feel unloved. My boundaries aren’t a rejection of others but a commitment to my own spiritual integrity.
The Bible says, “For straight is the path and narrow is the way that leads to everlasting life, but vast and wide is the way that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:14). Walking this narrow path requires a delicate balance—loving others without condoning their sin, staying true to God’s call without becoming self-righteous.
Biblical Wisdom for Spiritual Growth
Here’s what I’ve learned: faith must be rooted in love. Without the love of Christ, our righteousness means nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). That love starts with gratitude. Each day, I wake up and thank God for the gift of another day to glorify Him. He’s the reason I’m alive, the source of every good thing I do.
But gratitude alone isn’t enough. We must also guard our hearts against the distractions and idols of this world. The Bible warns us, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Idols aren’t just physical objects—they’re anything that pulls us away from God, from workaholism to entertainment. If we put God first, we’ll store up treasures in heaven that moth and rust cannot destroy (Matthew 6:19-20).
The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that love is action. It’s not judgmental or self-serving. It seeks to uplift, not condemn. My mother’s devotion taught me that faith isn’t about personal glory—it’s about pointing others to God. That’s what I strive to do now: love without judgment, serve without ego, and guide others toward Him with humility.
Yes, this journey is challenging. Yes, it often requires sacrifices—of relationships, comfort, or worldly pleasures. But God never said it would be easy; He said it would be worth it. And it is.
If you’re struggling with similar tensions—balancing faith, love, and boundaries—know that you’re not alone. God calls us to walk the narrow path, but He walks it with us, guiding and protecting us every step of the way. Lean on Him, and you’ll find the strength to love better, live better, and glorify Him in all you do.
Closing Thoughts
When I look back now, I’m grateful for the lessons my mother’s faith taught me, even when they hurt. She gave God the glory because she knew the truth: we are nothing without Him. If I’d understood that sooner, I would have felt less pain and more joy in serving her. Today, I strive to live with that understanding—to love as Christ loves, to walk the narrow path with grace, and to give God the glory in everything.
But there’s one more lesson I’d like to share. As we journey deeper into faith, we’ll sometimes find that people drift out of our lives. It’s not always personal. Just as we distance ourselves from energies and behaviors that don’t align with God’s call, others may feel the need to step away from us, too—and it can hurt on both sides. It’s important to remember that we don’t owe anyone an explanation to validate our choices, but we do have an opportunity to be more expressive about why we are the way we are.
The key to that lies in understanding ourselves. If we aren’t fully aware of why we’ve chosen this path, how can we share its purpose with others? How can we teach with our walk if we haven’t reflected on the reasons behind each step? When we take time to align our hearts with God and examine our motives, we gain clarity—and with that clarity, we can approach others with love, humility, and the grace to explain, not just act.
After all, the journey is about more than living out the truth—it’s about pointing others toward it, too.
The Twin Tree Project 