Give Yourself Away

Let's be real: we live in a world screaming "Me first!" Look out for number one. Chase your dreams. Do what makes you happy. Get yours. Prioritize self-care above all else. And honestly? Some of that sounds pretty good, especially when life feels hard or demanding. We're told fulfillment lies in maximizing our own pleasure, our own comfort, our own success. But have you ever followed that path relentlessly, only to find yourself... still feeling empty? Still restless? Still wondering, "Is this really all there is to life?" Yeah. We've been there.

The message is relentless: focus inward, build your kingdom, protect your heart, don't let anyone take advantage. It sounds like self-preservation, like strength. But often, it leads to isolation, anxiety, and a constant, gnawing dissatisfaction. We build walls to protect ourselves, only to find we've built a prison. We chase fleeting highs, only to crash harder. There’s a deep-down part of us, created by God, that knows we were made for more than just serving ourselves.

Then you hear Jesus' words – "lose your life to find it" (Matthew 10:39) – and it sounds... insane. Backward. Like the opposite of everything the world tells us. Give myself away? Doesn't that mean burnout, being used, losing myself entirely? That's what we thought too. But as we started dipping our toes into living this paradox, cautiously at first, we discovered something mind-blowing: He was right. True, lasting joy isn't found in hoarding our lives, our time, our talents, our love. It floods in when we start pouring them out, not in a way that erases us, but in a way that actually helps us discover who we were truly made to be.

Giving yourself away isn't about becoming a doormat or neglecting your own needs in an unhealthy way. It's about a fundamental shift in perspective. It's about:

• Choosing Service: Intentionally looking for ways, big and small, to make someone else's life better, even when it's inconvenient.
• Cultivating Gratitude: Shifting focus from what we lack to the abundance we already have, and letting that overflow.
• Loving Freely: Offering love, forgiveness, and presence without demanding something perfectly equal in return. Risking connection.
• Radical Trust: Learning to lean on God's goodness, even when circumstances are scary or uncertain, believing He will provide. Letting go of the illusion of control.
• Embracing the Moment: Showing up fully where we are, instead of constantly wishing we were somewhere else or waiting for the "perfect" conditions to be generous or joyful.

In this talk, we share our own stumbles and successes in trying to live this counter-cultural truth. We talk about the fears that hold us back (What if I run out? What if I get hurt?), the surprising ways God refills us when we give, and the profound peace and purpose that bloom when we stop making life all about "me."

Imagine trading anxiety for trust. Imagine swapping restlessness for deep-seated purpose. Imagine feeling more energized, not less, when you serve others. That's the fruit of living a life poured out. It's the freedom of knowing your worth isn't tied to what you accumulate, but to Who you belong to and how you love. It's discovering that the secret to a truly full life isn't getting more, but giving more, allowing God to work through you. You leave understanding that becoming a woman of service and radical trust isn't a burden; it's the pathway to the deepest, most resilient joy imaginable, and the way to become most fully yourself.

Why bring this talk to your community? Because the relentless pursuit of self is leaving people exhausted and empty. This message offers a liberating, life-giving alternative rooted in the Gospel. It challenges listeners to step outside themselves and discover the profound fulfillment God promises to those who dare to love generously and trust radically.