| Realizing she had more than she needed and still wasn't satisfied awakened her. — John Onwuchekwa, from We Go On  Digging Behind "Never Enough" by John Onwuchekwa, from We Go On 
 I wish you could meet Harlie. She knows what's up. I met her over a decade ago at the bakery next door to my church in downtown Atlanta. I'd go there five days a week and order coffee. You want to get better at turning strangers into friends?
Here's a pro tip: Remember names. Someone's first name is the sweetest word in any language. Sounds simple, right? But I've found that if you ask someone's name and then make sure you call them by their name, about the third time they start feeling insecure about not know- ing yours. And so the questions begin.
Before you know it, meaningless interactions — like me ordering the same cup of coffee every day — transform into meaningful relationships. And that's what happened with Harlie.
Come Together
You feeling disconnected? Maybe you find yourself seeing the same people over and over but never actually getting to know them. Let me help you out.
Harlie and I got to talking. Her story read like an after-school special. She gave her life to drugs too young. And as anyone knows who's experienced that firsthand, or is close to someone who has, the drugs are never enough. But thank God Harlie's rock bottom was an awakening, not an early grave. God gave her the gift of desperation. She left the drugs behind and started running instead. And I mean, twenty-six point two miles in the Atlanta sun running! She loved it — the thrill, the accomplishment. The steady drumbeat of hands clapping as she neared the finish line was her favorite song. Or it was, until she realized that running had become just another drug, another kind of addiction. It wasn't immoral. But it proved every bit as destructive. Just like before, her whole life was consumed by the pursuit.
Fam, I was shocked. I had thought the problem was what Harlie was chasing. Running is a whole lot healthier than cocaine, right? John, she said, I found that when I made running the center of my life, there wasn't enough of that either. It wasn't the drugs or the running; it was the addictive pursuit of something that could never satisfy. What she did wasn't nearly as important as why she did it. That's left a lasting impression on me.
Realizing she had more than she needed and still wasn't satisfied awakened her.
Years after that interaction with Harlie, I read Judith Grisel's book Never Enough. Judith's pursuit started at thirteen years old with a bottle of wine. It put a straitjacket on her out-of-control nerves and anxieties. So, this is how people get through life, she thought. She then went on to try every kind of drug until the age of twenty-three, when she got clean. Unlike Harlie, though, she didn't bottom out. More like the Teacher, she found herself on the mountaintop, with more drugs than she could ever want. But that turned out to be her awakening. I have more than I could possibly need, and it's still not enough. Amazingly, she went back to school and got a PhD in neuroscience. She wanted to understand the relationship between the human brain and addictive behaviors. And here's what she found:
We don't become addicts because our brains are broken, but because they are working properly. We are designed to always want more.
Think about that. Your brain will get used to the most intense pleasures only to crave more. See what I'm saying?
The fundamental issue isn't whether pleasure is good or bad; it's that there is something deep inside of you that pleasure can never fill. From lines of cocaine to the finish lines of marathons, it can all end up being the same pursuit. The destination is always out of reach.
Breathe
What pleasure do you lean on when you're stressed and anxious? What pursuit is at the center of your day? Is there something that makes you think, If only I had just a little more of that, I'd feel alright?
Y'all, I don't want you to feel guilty or ashamed. It's just me and you talking; you don't have to tell anyone else. But like Harlie and Judith, maybe it's time for a revelation.
Does your need for pleasure hide a deeper longing?
Let's pray.
Father, Amen. Excerpted with permission from We Go On by John Onwuchekwa, copyright John Onwuchekwa.
Your Turn
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. — James 1:17
The purpose of pleasure is to be a pathway to God, the Giver of that pleasure. Otherwise it ultimately brings us to the same place as Harlie and Judith, or worse. Whether there isn't enough or too much, we'll still be wanting more. Let's run to Him today! Come share your thoughts with us! We want to hear from you Share this devotion with someone who needs it today. God Made You for True Purpose
Save 30% off this new release
by John Onwuchekwa  Hardcover, Regular: $17.99 eBook price: $9.99 + free U.S. shipping* on orders $35 or more Do you often ask the question "What is my purpose in life?" Rich with black-and-white photography, powerful stories, and life-changing reflections from the book of Ecclesiastes, We Go On, by pastor and entrepreneur John Onwuchekwa calls you to find the true answer to the question: Why am I here?
In a world that encourages us to find meaning in temporary things, we long to know that who we are makes a difference after we're gone. This hope-filled exploration of this biblical book of wisdom turns our attention to what our true purpose is and how to let that purpose shape our relationships, career, and life choices. Along with biblical insights, John Onwuchekwa weaves together meaningful challenges that even from difficult beginnings, we can continue to trust God's path.
In this book, you'll discover a more meaningful, fulfilling life as you explore themes such as:
Inspiring black-and-white photography paired with a modern cover make this a perfect gift to give to men and women for holidays, graduations, birthdays, new jobs, or to anyone seeking a deeper relationship with God. We Go On will help men and women:
This unique book reminds you that deeper purpose is available as you look beyond your circumstances and find meaning in the God who never changes. What people are saying... 
 "We Go On reaches straight into the soul of the reader where our deepest fears and darkest doubts and fiercest anxieties reside, injecting solid, timeless truth. And where there is truth, there is hope. — Beth Moore, founder of Living Proof Ministries
"Solomon's ancient wisdom comes to us by way of John's clear and contemporary articulation of it. With the lightheartedness of a friend and the pastoral burden of a shepherd, John explores themes we either know well or will know soon. His words will surely help us embrace the ride that is life. Buckle up." — Jackie Hill Perry, bestselling author and speaker
"For the person who contends with the tensions of life - this book is a balm for your soul." — Zim Flores, author of Dare to Bloom
"In We Go On, John Onwuchekwa...allows us to see what many men of God don't: his struggles, his issues, his doubts. In a word, his humanity. But praise God that Onwuchekwa doesn't stop at admitting that he experiences the same challenges as the rest of us. He also shows us the way to overcome and to triumph." — Chris Broussard, sports broadcaster and NBA analyst, founder and president of the K.I.N.G. Movement
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