Commitment and Dedication: an Everyday Choice

by: Keren May Busaing

When the going gets tough, do we have what it takes to remain committed and dedicated to the good things that we previously decided to take on? Commitment and dedication are qualities that are rare nowadays. 

In the complexity of our day-to-day lives, it is easy to overlook the need for commitment and dedication. Most of the time, the demanding nature of our everyday activities results in decisions that overlook our dedication to the bigger picture. While this is called flexibility to the unexpected, how far are we from our original aspirations? Have we deviated from the essence of what we are supposed to commit to? For example, our resolve to become a better version of ourselves while we are in the moment is intense, and our dedication seems focused. Immediately, particular plans of action towards accomplishing it are lined up in our minds, for others, in their planners. Then, we take action according to our plans. It’s easy and smooth at first, then time passes, and so does our consciousness to fulfill it. ​

Commitment and dedication are characteristics that we need to choose to do in our daily lives. While the specifics in our action plans may change, there are other ways to accomplish our goal of becoming better versions of ourselves. Commitment and dedication do not mean we should religiously stick to our action plan. There is no exact formula, and the constant is the goodness and purity of our intentions. Our ways and timelines may change, but we will eventually get there as we commit and act in righteousness toward it every day. 

Most importantly, as an everyday choice, commitment and dedication admonishes us to reach or accomplish our aspirations in righteousness. There is no shortcut to success; trying to do so is the opposite of commitment and dedication. It is impatience and contrary to the essence of our good intentions. As King David says in his Psalm, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” Commitment and dedication are a partnership with God. By understanding that His plans for us are perfect - to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us hope and a future, committing must not be difficult for us. 

Let us then choose to commit to God’s ways that He shall delight in us and establish our steps towards our aspirations. Amongst the many ways to accomplish our success, let our commitment be specific to accomplishing things with God - not by our might nor by our own strength but by God’s Spirit, who is continuously at work in us. Altogether, let our daily consciousness be at peace, knowing that when the going gets tough and that in the midst of the many plans in our minds, it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Let our dedication be first established in Him, and our success, beyond what we can imagine, shall follow. Let this be our conscious choice every day, commit to God and His ways.