We live in a world that tells us "if you ain't first, you're last!" For many of us, our core question in life is, "Am I successful?" We tie our worth to our wins, our career milestones, and our ability to contribute. But what happens when you hit a wall, experience a failure, or simply feel like the world isn't appreciating your work?

Around Christmas time, one of the most famous specials comes on, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It’s lesser-known sequel, Rudolf and the Island of Misfit Toys, Shows a deeper question we all ask.  Whether it is a train with square wheels or a Charlie-in-the-box, every misfit is asking the same core question: "Am I wanted?"

"Hello, can you hear me?" We often think of Adele’s lyrics as just a song about a breakup, but they actually reveal the deepest ache of the human heart. Whether we are calling a thousand times or sitting in a room full of people, the question "Am I loved?" often sounds like: "Are you listening? Do you see me? Do you know me?"

How much money is enough? For most of us, the answer is usually "just a little bit more than I have right now." Whether we are navigating a tight budget or managing a massive fortune, the question "Am I secure?" often dictates how we live, how we work, and how we treat the people around us.

What is the thing that scares you the most? Is it the dark? Spiders? Or is it something less childish like the loss of your health, a job, or a loved one? One of the biggest questions we ask in any situation is: Am I Safe?

What if the biggest frustrations in your marriage, your career, and your faith all stem from one single, unanswered question?

In the kickoff of our new series, "The Core," Pastor David Reneau explores the invisible tracks that drive our emotions and behaviors.