Contributed by Darren Lim • Jun 2, 2026

Perhaps what struck me most during the interview with Bobby Gruenewald (Pastor and Innovation Leader at Life.Church & Founder of YouVersion Bible App) was how he unexpectedly responded to the question: “What’s next after 1.1 billion YouVersion subscribers?”.

Instead of laying out a grand strategic plan, he began by confessing that as God continues to expand the vision, he is increasingly conscious of his inadequacies. And here it took an unexpected turn: This was exactly how it needed to be. It is a posture of continual full dependence on God for the task at hand.

In that moment, a still small voice whispered in my heart: “It isn’t about you, but about God”.

This really made me reflect on my personal walk with Christ. Do I approach with longing hope – the way we ache to reconnect with someone dear we haven’t seen in years? Or am I trying to check Bible reading off my to-do list? Or perhaps even worse, am I reading with the selfish intent of mining insights that may shed some light towards resolving my present circumstances?

I caught myself doing just that recently. I was quickly scanning through the all too familiar story of Jesus walking on water in Mark 6:45-56 while waiting in line at a restaurant. I didn’t spend even 5 minutes reflecting. But reading it again later, Jesus words:

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid,“

and then the sobering subtext that followed,

‘..for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened,”

hit me like a hammer on the head.

Caught up in the anxieties of me and my family’s present circumstances, my heart had unconsciously hardened. I had fallen into the trap of believing that it was up to me to get us out of the pickle. Scripture gently but firmly broke through my self-reliance, reminding me that Jesus is the one in control, not me.

We all battle narcissistic tendencies. The question isn’t whether we have them but how much they rule us. We tend to look out for “number one” – our interests, needs and concerns dominate our conscious thoughts. It is said the chief interest that consumes our inner thoughts in the quiet spaces in between life’s hustle forms a litmus test of who is truly on the throne of our lives.

What’s important is to saturate ourselves so wholly with the Word of God that we begin walking this journey called life as a willing partner with God. A posture where we are fully absorbed by the things that interest Him. Continually and fully dependent on God.

Lord, let my inner thoughts stop dwelling inwards and instead focus wholeheartedly upwards I pray. May my chief concern be about the good You are doing in this world. Transform me to be Your willing partner to bring Your love to those around me.