How tragic, yet almost symbolic for Whitney Houston to pass away on the eve of the GRAMMY Awards, which is designed to reward musical acts deemed the greatest for the present moment in time. So many artists chase that honor, but in their efforts to gain the whole world, they lose their souls.
Whitney’s untimely passing serves as a cautionary tale for anyone consumed with achieving a hollow definition of success. In life and death Whitney showed all of us that worldwide fame, riches, accolades, and adoration mean nothing if your real life is torn and in shambles.
No one can deny that Whitney Houston’s soul was tormented. She gave the world everything—her gift, love, passion—and was left empty, with nothing else to give. Sadly, she tried to fill her emptiness with drugs and alcohol to no avail.
But even when she was falling apart, millions were busy celebrating that she was the first female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart, along with many other achievements.
But that didn't bring her any joy and fulfillment.
In her poignant 2009 sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey, Whitney Houston expressed her void and the futility of chasing meaningless accomplishments. “I had the money. I had cars. I had the house. I had the husband, had the kid,” she said. “And none of it was really that fulfilling. I mean, at one time I was happy. I was happy, but I needed that joy. I needed my joy back. I needed that peace that passeth all understanding. I needed that moment, when I was three years old, that church thing, that thing that my mother gave me, that I was born into.”
As a talented young girl, Whitney’s future seemed so bright. After legendary Arista Records founder, Clive Davis, discovered her at age 19, together, they would go on to create 8 multi-platinum albums. Before her demise, Whitney seemed to be living the life others call the American Dream.
But it all turned out to be a farce, a nightmare. Someone had sold her a bill of goods and she wanted those days back when she “was a teenager singing for God” and was “so sure” of her life’s purpose. “When I became Whitney Houston and all this other stuff happened, my life became the world’s,” she told Oprah.
And the world chewed her up and spit her out. The world put her life on display and made a mockery of her drug addiction. Even though millions are mourning now, when she and Bobby Brown were clearly strung out, the media exploited their pain.
It was a pain that reporters and journalists didn’t understand.
“I had no normal twenties. I had no normal thirties,” she reflected. “My life was full of making records and doing tours, and traveling the world, and going every place.”
But deep down in Whitney’s heart was still that young girl who just wanted to sing for God. When Oprah asked her “Who do you love?” she said, “The Lord,” and chuckled. “I do. I am so humbled and so thankful by His grace and His goodness, and for never giving up on me.”
Her last public song ever sung was “Yes, Jesus Loves Me.”
If she didn’t have any other assurance, she knew that Christ’s unconditional love was unfailing, and she took that to the grave.
Today, as we reflect on her life and death, I want you to remember that all the man-made riches in the world can never provide joy unspeakable or the peace that passes all understanding—something Whitney Houston testified to before passing away too soon at the young age of 48.
To remind you of this truth, I’m stirring Philippians 4:7 NIV into your cup of inspiration today. It says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When you drink down the contents of your freshly prepared cup, you’ll be reminded that the joy and peace you need is found in Christ Jesus alone. All the money, power, and material things in the world will never give you the satisfaction you'll receive in the arms of the Master and Savior of the world.
Whether you have little or much, if you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you are the richest you’ll ever be!
Now let’s pray together.
Father, I thank You for the gift of Your son Jesus Christ and how He redeemed me from sin through the shedding of His precious blood. Please help me to never place a higher premium on material wealth and worldly riches than I do my personal relationship with You, my Savior! Please help me never to be tainted by this world’s definition of success or blinded by a dogged pursuit of material things. Let my thirst be only after You, oh God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
