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Many of us go through life feeling a deep sense of emptiness, a feeling that something important is missing. We try to fill this hole with relationships, work, or possessions, but nothing seems to last.
The Bible speaks of a glorious purpose for each of us, a calling to know God and share in His divine glory, to achieve a closeness with God, no matter your past mistakes.
This is not a heavy burden, but a wonderful gift. It is the weight of glory—the amazing reality that we are made to know God and reflect His light to the world.
The Search for Something More
From a young age, we often sense there is more to life than what we can see. Wille describes this feeling as a child:
“I knew deep down that a big piece of my life’s puzzle was missing. And I knew I had to find it.”
This longing is a clue. It is a hint that we were created for something greater, for a connection with our Creator.
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We might look for this fulfillment in many places. Wille tried wealth, beauty, and success, but found them hollow. She writes:
“The car, coat, huge house, and fancy church were showy plastic play toys, which looked like big, promising Christmas presents; but inside they were hollow.”
This feeling she had can be familiar to many people. The things of this world cannot satisfy the deep hunger in our souls because we were made for eternal glory, not temporary things.
This search is really a search for God’s glory. It is a desire to know the One who made us and to find our purpose in Him.
And though the Lord gives you
The bread of adversity and the water of affliction,
Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore,
But your eyes shall see your teachers. — Isaiah 30:20
Embracing the Weight of Glory
The path to experiencing God’s glory often requires us to let go of our own ways. We must let go of our own efforts to be good enough and our tight grip on control. For a long time, Wille tried very hard to please God by following all the rules. She felt like she was constantly failing. She learned that this struggle was because she was relying on her own strength instead of God’s grace.
She explains a significant turning point:
“I no longer had to perform to impossible standards… He had freed me from them by fulfilling them for me and placing me into Himself.”
This is the key: we cannot earn divine glory. It is not something that can be earned. It is a gift we are given when we finally stop trying to save ourselves by ourselves and fully trust in what Jesus has already done for us.
This means giving up our pride. It means admitting that we need a Savior. When we do this, we are not weak; we are finally opening ourselves up to receive God’s power and love. It is in our weakness that His strength is made perfect. The glory revealed is not in our perfection, but in His perfect love for us, even in our struggles.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. — 2 Corinthians 12:9
Living in the Light of His Glory
When we stop striving and start trusting, something beautiful happens. We begin to experience God’s presence in a real way. Wille describes a decisive moment when she finally turned to face God, afraid of what she would see. Instead of anger, she was met with pure love.
“Our eyes had locked in His vanquishing love—beyond imagination… They told me that He could relate entirely to my loneliness… To me, this was unbelievable.”
This is what it means to live in spiritual glory. It is a close, personal relationship with God where we know we are fully accepted and loved. We are no longer hiding or pretending. We are free to be ourselves, knowing we are safe in His care. This relationship changes everything. It fills the emptiness we once felt.
In this place of rest, we discover that god’s glory is not a faraway light, but a presence that lives within us. Wille came to understand that “the Holy of Holies now lives inside you.”
We become carriers of His light. Our lives begin to naturally show the fruit of His Spirit—love, joy, peace, and patience. This is the weight of glory—not a burden to carry, but a purpose to fulfill: to show others what God is like.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. — 2 Corinthians 5:17
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The Eternal Glory Ahead
The journey does not end here. The glory we experience now is just a glimpse of the eternal glory that awaits us. The struggles we face in this life are shaping us and preparing us for an incredible future with God. Wille learned to see her challenges as tools in God’s hands, used to make her more like Jesus.
Wille writes about the importance of resting in God’s promises, especially during times of hardship. This hope for the future gives us the strength we need today. We are not just living for the moment; we are living for eternity.
The weight of glory is the awesome reality that our lives have eternal significance. Every act of love, every step of faith, matters forever.
We are called to embrace this glorious purpose. It is a calling to know God deeply, to rest in His love, and to let His light shine through us. It is the most fulfilling adventure we will ever know.
…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. — John 10:10
My Journey Through the Cross by Ashley D. Wille is a stark and poignant look at what it means to embrace the calling of the Lord.
