You've felt it.

That gnawing ache when you scroll through someone else's life and think, "Why don't I have that?"

The beautiful house. The thriving ministry. The influence. The respect. The ease.

You look at what others have, and suddenly what God gave you doesn't feel like enough anymore.

That's exactly where Israel was standing when they demanded a king.

The Original FOMO

1 Samuel 12:21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

Israel looked around at the nations surrounding them and made a devastating choice: they wanted to fit in.

They had God Himself as their King. They had His direct presence, His miracles, His protection. But that wasn't enough. They wanted what everyone else had: a visible, tangible, human king who looked impressive and made them feel normal.

God gave them what they asked for. He gave them Saul. And then Samuel stood before the people with this warning: Don't go after vain things.

Don't chase the empty stuff that looks so appealing but can't actually deliver what it promises.

The world had a prettier religion. Beautiful images. A fleshly, sense-appealing system that looked good on the outside. Samuel warned them: Don't go after that.

Because those things are vain. They cannot profit. They cannot deliver. They are empty.

And we're doing the exact same thing today.

What We're Really Chasing

We look at the world around us and we want what they have.

We want their success. Their security. Their recognition. Their "freedom" to do whatever they want without consequence.

We've convinced ourselves that God is somehow holding out on us. That if we could just have that thing: that position, that income level, that platform, that relationship: then we'd finally be satisfied.

But here's the truth the world won't tell you: possessions are not worthy of your pursuit.

Proverbs 23:5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

The stuff you're chasing? It's got wings. It won't stay. It can't satisfy. It will leave you emptier than when you started.

Luke 12:15 says it even more directly:

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Your life is not made richer by what you own. It's made richer by who owns you.

And if Jesus owns you, you already have everything you need.

The Lie We Keep Believing

Maybe you've said it out loud. Maybe you've just thought it quietly in the dark.

"God isn't letting me have as much fun as they're having."

You see someone else living with apparent freedom: doing what they want, getting what they want, experiencing what looks like joy: and you feel cheated.

But that's the oldest lie in the book. Literally.

The serpent whispered to Eve, "God's holding out on you. He doesn't want you to have the good stuff."

And we've been believing that lie ever since.

Here's what actually happens when you chase the "fun" the world is having: you end up with heartache, not happiness.

1 Timothy 6:9-10 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

That's what chasing empty dreams does. It doesn't set you free. It runs you through.

You think you're missing out, but what you're actually missing is peace.

God Knows What You Need

The problem isn't that God is withholding good things from you.

The problem is that we've redefined "good" based on what everyone else is chasing.

But God knows exactly what you need. And He wants to meet those needs in the best way, at the best time.

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

When God blesses you, it comes without regret. Without the hidden cost. Without the strings attached.

When you chase what the world offers, you get the thing: but you also get the debt, the anxiety, the emptiness, the relational wreckage, and the soul-sorrow that comes with it.

God's blessing doesn't work that way. His provision doesn't come with a side of destruction.

Matthew 6:31-33 lays it out clearly:

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Seek first the kingdom. Not the stuff. Not the status. Not the fitting in.

Seek God. And He will add what you actually need.

Not what Instagram says you need. Not what your flesh craves. But what your soul requires to thrive.

Stop Chasing. Start Seeking.

You don't have to keep running after things that can't deliver.

You don't have to keep comparing your life to someone else's highlight reel.

You don't have to keep believing the lie that God is keeping something good from you.

Psalm 37:16 reminds us:

> A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

A little with God is better than much without Him.

The peace that comes from trusting God with your needs is worth more than all the possessions, prestige, and power the world can offer.

So stop chasing empty dreams that lead to heartache. Stop going after vain things that cannot profit or deliver.

Instead, seek God. Trust Him. Let Him meet your needs in His way and His time.

And discover what Israel forgot: when you have God, you have everything.

If you're wrestling with believing God's love is enough, I wrote about that in The Big Leap of Faith: Believing God Loves You Exactly As You Are. It's the foundation everything else is built on.

And if you want more encouragement on living from rest instead of striving, check out the Followed by Mercy podcast where we unpack what it looks like to stop performing and start resting in God's finished work.

FAQ: Chasing Empty Dreams

What does it mean to chase "vain things"?

Vain things are pursuits that look valuable but can't actually deliver what they promise. They're empty. They can't save you, satisfy you, or sustain you. Possessions, prestige, and power all fall into this category when we chase them instead of God.

How do I know if I'm chasing the wrong things?

Ask yourself: Am I more anxious or more peaceful? If your pursuits are stealing your peace and making you feel like you're always behind, you're likely chasing something empty. God's provision brings rest, not relentless striving.

Does this mean I shouldn't have goals or ambitions?



Not at all. It means your goals should flow from seeking God first, not from trying to keep up with everyone else. When God leads you toward something, He provides what you need without the soul-damage that comes from chasing the world's version of success.