Vanity and Grasping For the Wind
June 7, 2026
“Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labour; And this was my reward from all my labour. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labour in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.”
Reflection
24th September 2025 Yes, the life that I had spent chasing career dreams, 5 year plans and the ideal life, balancing work, sports and family, ultimately resulted in no sustainable joy. They were all a meaningless grasping for the wind when God was not the centre of my joy. How could I have forgotten the benefits of my God, who has loved me and provided for me even before I was knitted in my mother’s womb? As I look ahead to my impending trial, why does my blood pressure rise in fear and dread, when my God had already shown His sovereignty and grace by delivering me from the IPP case; provided for me and my family through my physician jobs; and surrounded me with angels, family and friends, who encouraged me when I was in despair? Have I not been kept in good spirits and physical health? Psalm 114 1 When Israel went out of Egypt, The house of Jacob from a people of strange language, 2 Judah became His sanctuary, And Israel His dominion. 3 The sea saw it and fled; Jordan turned back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, The little hills like lambs. 5 What ails you, O sea, that you fled? O Jordan, that you turned back? 6 O mountains, that you skipped like rams? O little hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob, 8 Who turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a fountain of waters. This, too, is my Psalm. His Spirit dwells within me and His Spirit leads me. He may lead me into the wilderness to be tested, but He is also there with me. He has never left me to fend for myself. This is the truth. God is constantly reminding me that I am His. I have been consecrated to Him. All that I have and all that I am are His.
Application
What is success in God's eyes? It is not what I achieve on earth by human yardstick, but who God has created me to be - in His image and for His glory. I, therefore, am called to pursue Christ and His eternal glory. Such pursuit entails suffering, but the prize is sweet, for it is the restoration of my relationship with God. 1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Dear Lord, forgive me for I have sinned by coveting what is really Yours. I have coveted my time in chasing my dreams, instead of following You. I have devoted my resources to fulfilling my desires instead of understanding what is in Your heart. Thank You for never giving up on me. Thank You for Your Spirit which leads me on. Lord Jesus, You are the capstone of my family and my bread of life. Thank You for being with me. In Your Name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.