There’s a part of me that’s missed being present on social media. Since the end of December, I felt a strong pull to take a break and to be intentional to rest and reset my life, home, and heart. Little did I know what was in store…
These last few months have been a whirlwind. From my sister going through chemo, baby girls sick with the flu, to the pandemic scare and ripple effect of this virus…things feel unusually and unprecedentedly odd…and a bit overwhelming.
Although initially it wasn’t what I would have wanted I have become so incredibly thankful for the intentional time away from any media presence. I see now how much of my time and strength is needed to care for what (and who) is literally right in front of me.
I don’t feel ready at all to feel I must post consistently again at this time, but I do feel a strong urge to encourage and speak life into the insanity we are all facing.
When everything around us is shifting there is one thing that is certain: times of struggle provide the sweetest opportunities to grow.
When we feel pressure, we have an opportunity to press in.
When we feel scared, we have an opportunity to seek.
When we feel overwhelmed, we have an opportunity to be changed.
Bottom line: suffering is an invitation to strengthen.
I have no idea where this is all leading and what lasting impacts it will have, economically, politically, practically, physically and spiritually…but I have no doubt at all that this time is one of refinement, for us individually, as well as the church at large.
I want to encourage us to use this time to get back to what it is that matters most. Are we submitted to the Lord with tender hearts that lean in to be led by Him? Are we actively using our words and lives to give true hope to those who do not yet know Him? Or are we too busy with our own lives and too preoccupied with our own interests that we aren’t concerned with those around us?
Are our hearts open to Him or have we been avoiding relationship with Him because other things seem more important, alluring, consuming or interesting?
Are we prayerful that God would use us to seek and save the lost, to be a voice of hope, to share grace, to be a presence of peace? Or are we allowing seeds of sin and selfishness to creep in and divide?
Are we mindful to live and share His story of redemption, grace, and truth or are we too preoccupied in being careful to preserve our story, interests, and identity?
Put simply, are we making second things first and first things second? The Word is clear when we do that we lose both.
What are the mattering things? As in truly, what is it that matters most in life? Let’s take inventory and really evaluate what it is we spend our time doing our money investing in and our efforts pursuing.
My prayer in this time is that we would be encouraged to think through what it is that is lasting and eternal and put all our efforts to invest in what matters most.
Maybe it’s slowing down to connect with that particularly difficult child.
Maybe it’s pursuing a meaningful, or possibly overdue, conversation with your spouse.
Maybe it’s asking a neighbor if you can serve them in some way or carving out the time to just get to know them.
Maybe it’s finally addressing that wedge that’s grown between you and another.
Maybe it’s being present instead of rushing past.
Now is the time to reset. Now is the time to seek Him first. Now is the time to prioritize what it is that matters most! Friends, don’t waste this opportunity!
**This post originally appeared on Facebook, published with permission.
