Over the past several years, I have worked with focus on having a healthier rhythm to my life. The idea of ebb and flow has been a slippery slope for me and it has taken great effort on my part to implement some new ways of living in order to live better.
We all have busy seasons in our lives. For me when it comes to ministry, it’s the actual season of fall. No matter how well I plan, I find myself in one of these three stages:
Plan
Paralysis
(Perceived) Pandemonium
PLAN- I’m a planner so this tends to be where I shine. Looking at each item on the calendar and dissecting them into bite-sized pieces to get a better picture of the process needed to accomplish the goal. Ahhhh….. Spreadsheets, lists, action items, Outlook calendaring….it’s like pumpkin spice to my organizational mind. And well-worth the necessary time to better manage details and expectations. A good plan helps launch me into productivity even in the face of the busiest seasons. And away I go!
PARALYSIS – Somewhere along the line, even the best of plans can fall short and I find myself staring into the face – actually, the kneecaps – of The Giant. Terrified. Frozen. Stuck. Not sure how to ask for help because it would take longer to explain what I need than simply do it myself. Or so I think. This, my friends, is where I do not shine! Raising the white flag, sounding the alarm, asking for help is where the Lord continues to work on me. Unfortunately, I have fallen into the trap of thinking that it simply takes better planning on my part to avoid the PARALYSIS stage and this easily leads to a its-your-fault-this-has-happened frame of mind. The truth is that we weren’t made to live solo. That includes my work. I need to ask for help from time to time. And when I don’t, I find myself headed straight for…
(PERCEIVED) PANDEMONIUM – This is typically the “day-of” state of mind where I believe the lie that it will not all come together. The caterer will not show, the linens will not match, the guests will arrive too early, and I’ll be a frazzled mess when it is time to open the doors and welcome them. My optimism is nowhere to be found, my pulse has quickened, and all my mind can see is a movie clip of me running around with my hair on fire.
But I’m not.
The truth is this is when the Lord surprises me with people who “randomly” show up to see what I’m up to and ask how they can help. This is where the Lord adds time to my day even though 10 time-suckers have been added to it. This is where I find His grace in surprising places and ways.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Psalm 32:8
Oh yeah, this work was His work all along.
That realization – the one that reminds me Who is really in charge – is the realization that kicks The Giant right in the kneecaps. That realization – the one that reminds me Who orchestrated the creation of the entire universe and can certainly handle the little project in front of me – is the realization that takes The Giant down to size and gives me PERSPECTIVE.
As we see the fall season coming around the corner, I pray that you experience excitement over what the Lord has invited you into. That you would look past The Giant to see your loving Father and His plan, provision, and peace each step of the way. I pray that you have His perspective through each moment. May you be fully aware of His invitation to you to participate in the life-changing work He is faithfully doing. I pray that you be fully alert to His love for you. And may you always remember that…
You are adored.
You Are Adored 