In this new season, God is showing me he is more concerned about my relationship with Him and who I am becoming rather than what I do. I had been running the race of full-time vocational children’s ministry for over twenty years. For thirteen of those years, I was working full time while juggling motherhood.
I wore the label of“doer”quite proudly. I have always been the high achiever type. As a 3 “The Achiever” on the Enneagram, I strive to DO everything with excellence. In every ministry I had the privilege to lead, I saw the need for improvements. I wanted to take the ministry to the next level. My gifts were putting structure in place, setting a vision for ministry, and helping families win at home.
Recently, I was looking back through my journals. I’m not sure where I read this, but it is a beautiful reminder for all of us. “Jesus desires presence over production.” Jesus doesn’t say perform for me. He whispers, “Draw near to me.”
Honestly, I never considered the years of ministry work as performing. Yet, as I continue to spend time with Jesus and get closer to him, I have come to recognize that some of my identity was in what I did. As I spend time in silence and prayer, I continue to hear Jesus whisper, Paula, I am with you. Your identity is not in what you do. Your identity is found in me. My dear child, you are my daughter. You are my beloved. Draw near to me.
What about you? Is your identity found in what you do? Are you an achiever like me? I challenge you to take time this week to sit with God. Draw near to him, and he will draw near to you.
“By relinquishing normal patterns of human striving and hard work, we can become aware of the vacuum we keep trying to fill by doing stuff and achieving things.” – Dallas Willard
Have you ever found yourself striving to get things done no matter the cost? I have. I was raised with a strong work ethic. If something is worth doing, it is worth doing right was my dad’s motto! So it didn’t surprise me that I became a “get it done kind of person.” I will work tirelessly until I finish something.
In 2014, I had just celebrated my tenth year on staff at the church where I worked. I was blessed with a 3 month sabbatical. It took me a couple of weeks of working through my to do lists before I realized what God really wanted from me. He wanted me to stop the striving and start abiding.
I started slowing down and spending time with Jesus. My morning quiet time became my favorite time of my day. I no longer wanted to hurry through my devotions to get on to the next thing on my list. I started lingering in the Word. I started journaling. I learned that Jesus wanted me to learn to be with Him. He showed me what it was to abide in Him. This sabbatical provided the much needed space to rest and to restore my spiritual health.
A Slip Back into Striving
Recently, I found myself back in a striving mode. I was on staff at a large multi-site church. We were getting ready to launch a new campus. There was a lot to do. I had a to-do list a mile long. I could tell my soul was quickly becoming weary. I became full of anxiety and worry that I wasn’t going to be able to keep up. Did I mention I was a perfectionist who valued excellence! Ugh…
Over time, as I spent time in God’s Word and in prayer, Jesus reminded me of what he called me to do.. Abide in Him.
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” John 5-8
I stepped away from that role 2 months ago. My anxiety has subsided. My soul is being restored as I am finding rest in abiding. I am spending intentional time with Jesus. I am choosing His presence. A book that has helped me re-focus is Choosing Presence: How to Access God’s Peace and Release Fear, Anxiety and Stress by Jim Heaney.
I think Dallas was right. We have to relinquish the pattern of human striving and hard work if we are going to abide in Jesus. What about you, are you striving or abiding?
Hey friends! Thanks for joining me today. I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I was happy to get some flowers and some herbs for our patio!
Something else that was fun… My daughter’s future mother-in-law and I hosted a Pampered Chef virtual bridal shower with Mariah and Zack this weekend. The consultant had us gather yesterday for a Zoom call with her bridal party, family, and friends to celebrate them since we were not able to do a traditional shower.
So Today, I will be reading Psalm 138 from The Message.
“Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!” Angels listen as I sing my thanks. I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: “Thank you!” Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength.
When they hear what you have to say, God, all earth’s kings will say “Thank you.” They’ll sing of what you’ve done: “How great the glory of God!” And here’s why: God, high above, sees far below; no matter the distance, he knows everything about us.
When I walk into the thick of trouble, keep me alive in the angry turmoil. With one hand strike my foes, With your other hand save me. Finish what you started in me, God. Your love is eternal—don’t quit on me now.”
Psalm 138
This passage takes me back to last fall, 2019. I was in a season where God was asking me to surrender my position as the Children’s Pastor at Salem. He made it clear to me in July that I was to step away at the end of the year. Now, I am stubborn and I am a planner. I knew our daughter was getting engaged and would probably have a summer wedding. SO financially speaking, I thought June made more sense! In October God made it very clear… he spoke to me and “Do you trust me, Paula?” You guys… He asked me 3 times! Well, as most of you know. I did leave my position at Salem on December 31.
The Lord has had me on a journey these past few years. He has shown me that slowing down, being still, and listening for his voice is so essential in my growth as a Christ-follower – especially in our busy culture. I think that is why I love the passage so much that I shared last week from Jeremiah … “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.” God continues to grow my roots along the riverbank – I am a continual work in process!
I guess I am sharing all of this because I know some of you need some encouragement today. I know you are weary. Friends, God is faithful – He has a plan for your life. God loves you. God sees you. God hears your prayers. Continue to praise him through your trials… He is not going to give up on you!
Thanks so much for listening! Let’s go to God in prayer…
Oh precious Heavenly Father, Thank you for being with us this day. Thank you for giving us the strength to continue to navigate these trying days and thank you for hearing our hearts.
Today, I pray you will be with everyone who is listening to the sound of my voice. I pray you will wrap your arms around them. I pray you will hold them close and allow them to feel your presence.
Heavenly Father,
I pray for parents and children as they are wrapping up their school year.
I pray for the high school and college grads who aren’t able to be celebrated
I pray for our state and national leaders as they implement the plan to open our states back up.
I pray for those who are on the front lines: first responders, doctors and nurses, people responsible for cleaning the hospitals and nursing home facilities.
I pray for all those who have lost jobs. I pray for those going back to work today, that you will bless them and encourage them.
I pray for family members experiencing health crises right now.
Oh Father, thank you for the privilege to come to you in prayer. We ask these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.
John Mark shared that he believes “Hurry is incompatible with love, joy, and peace that are at the center of Jesus’ vision for life in the Kingdom of God.”
In this podcast, Kevin and John Mark discuss four key practices we can begin using to eliminate hurry:
Silence and Solitude
Sabbath
Simplicity
Slowing
I have been working on these four practices for about a year now. I still have a long way to go. Some days are difficult. I haven’t “mastered” these four practices, yet I find myself desiring to live a life more centered on Jesus.
I would encourage you, especially during the COVID19 Crisis, to take some time and begin to slow down. Spend time in solitude and silence – choose a time of day and find a place to “Be Still”. Take time to delight in the Sabbath rest. What would happen if you would unplug from your phone for 24 hours? Living simply shouldn’t be too difficult right now with school and all activities put on hold. How could you start to eliminate hurry in your life?
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'”
Matthew 28:28-30 (NLT)
In recent days, we have seen our nation turned upside down due to the COVID-19 Virus. Never before has our generation seen such an interruption to life. We have seen…
Vacation attractions like Walt Disney World close,
Professional sports teams postpone their regular seasons
Schools being closed indefinitely
Large gatherings suspended.
People are panicking. Grocery stores and large retailers are seeing an onset of people rushing to buy things like hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and toilet paper.
As I sit and think about all these things, I’m curious as to what God’s invitation could be for us during this time? We live in such a busy culture. Could this be an invitation for us to stop and hit the RESET button?
Holocaust survivor, Corrie ten Boom once said, “If the devil can’t make you sin, he will make you busy!” Sin and busyness can keep us from a relationship with God. Friends, Jesus wants us to take time to be with him and allow us the opportunity to grow in our relationship with him. As my pastor, Steve Southards said this morning in his sermon, “God is more interested in who you are becoming than what you are doing!“
Think of the possibilities
Maybe this is a season we can reclaim a quiet time.
Maybe this is a season we can reclaim family mealtime.
Maybe this is a season you and your family spend time each week writing encouraging notes to loved ones.
Pray about ways God may be inviting you so slow down and push the RESET button. We have the opportunity to stop, take a deep breath and push RESET. What about you? What is God’s invitation to you during this time?
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”
Psalm 46:10
In this busy, chaotic world, our tendency is to put off everything that remotely to do with stillness. We don’t have time to “be still” or to rest. We are working longer hours, running kids to their multitude of activities, all the while trying to do our best to keep all ourselves from drowning in the sea of busyness. No wonder our culture suffers from so much anxiety. People have too much “to do”. Busyness is the enemy’s way of keeping us out of touch with our Creator.
What if we took time to be still each day? What if we took ten to fifteen minutes to just sit before the Lord? For instance,
Reflect on His goodness
Read scripture
Meditate on a verse
Our Creator, our God, craves this one-on-one time with you. How would our lives be different? How might God speak to you in this stillness?
My challenge to you is to give it a try. Start with 5 minutes and build up to 15 minutes. Here are some simple steps:
Sit and be still
Concentrate on your breathing
Inhale then exhale.
Notice your body relaxing
Feel God’s presence
It may take you a few days to get comfortable with this. At first, your mind will race to the things you need to do for that day. Keep at it! I promise you will come to a place where you start to crave this stillness. Remember, God wants to BE with you more than he wants you to DO. Take time to be with him!
It is my desire to encourage and inspire weary women and give them permission to rest.
This question came out of my Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Devotional this morning. As I sat in the stillness of the morning pondering this question, I realized how much God has expanded the territory of my soul this past year.
I’ve had some rough years. In the last four years, my husband and I had two big cross-country moves, my dad passed away and we suffered financial losses. Looking back, I know I suffered from depression. I had hit a wall. I didn’t realize until recently how the grief and losses had a hold on me.
On a September spiritual retreat, God allowed me space to work through my losses. I felt a breakthrough! On the other side of that wall, God expanded the territory of my heart. He healed my sorrow. He used that moment to give me a “Spiritual Awakening”.
I can see how God is continuing to do a work in me. Throughout the year, I have sensed God is doing something new. He has consistently put Isaiah 43:19 in front of me.
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?’’
Isaiah 43:19
I can not wait to see what will be birthed out of my past losses. I believe he is enlarging my soul so he can do a new work through me.
