In the Moment

Recently I’ve noticed how strong the temptation is for me to want to rush ahead to the next season of life. 

As soon as I cross one milestone I’m quick to think about my next goal, often getting impatient and considering whether or not I’m falling behind on my very arbitrary – and very linear – schedule. I try to predict how each step along the way should go, and leave very little room to enjoy watching God work out the details. Because of that, when one tiny element doesn’t go the way I decided it should, it’s easy to spiral out and decide the whole plan is derailed. 

Sometimes, this what’s-next mindset comes from a lack of trust in the goodness of God’s plans and timing, or the faithfulness of His provision; it gives me a sense of control over a future that I haven’t actually submitted to Him. Other times, it actually comes from a place of excitement at what’s in store; I just want to hurry up and get there!

But I’m realizing that this impatience to get where I’m going can end up breeding discontentment in where I am. 

It’s so important for me to learn to simply stay in the moment with the Lord in each season, just as He stays in the moment with me. After all, if I have some kind of vision of where I’m going, how much more so does the Lord? If I’m excited at the future plans He has for me, He is too. And if I’m feeling the desire to grow up in maturity and godly character, He wants that for me as well. 

If anyone had an excuse for wanting to skip to the end, it would be the One who already knows what the end will look like.

And yet, despite His knowing exactly where I’m headed, He isn’t rushing things. He doesn’t jump ahead and drop me down wherever I’m going to end up. He is patient, walking alongside me with each step forward (and often, with a few steps backward). 

I feel like there are so many examples to illustrate this in Scripture, but one that comes to mind is when Jesus was asked to heal Jairus’ daughter.

Of course, Jesus knew the end result – He was going to bring this little girl back to life. Now, the most time-efficient thing to do would have been to heal her from a distance; we know He could have done this, as we saw when He healed the centurion’s servant. But instead, He made the journey to Jairus’ house, interacted with the guests, entered the daughter’s room, and raised her from the dead. And all this time, everything He did was in Jairus’ presence. 

Why would He bother with all of that, when He could have healed her in an instant? I’m sure there were a number of reasons, but what it boils down to is that while there was value in raising Jairus’ daughter back up, there must have also been value in being present with him for that stretch of time. 

Maybe it was important for Him to minister to this grieving father as they walked. Maybe the time they spent together set Jairus up for a deeper relationship with Him, beyond simply receiving an answered prayer and then going about his life. Maybe there was something special about witnessing the disciples’ trusting relationship with Jesus firsthand. I don’t know what it was, but I know that the Lord does nothing without intention; if He made the decision to walk that road alongside Jairus, then I believe the result was better than if He had simply healed his daughter from afar. 

All of this is to say that while the Lord sees value in the destination, it’s evident that He sees value in the journey too. 

I believe that we’re meant to do the same. 

When we’re in a hard or painful season and we just want out of it, we can patiently wait for the healing and sense of God-nearness that often comes most tangibly in the valley. 

When we’re frustrated with our shortcomings and wish we could jump ahead to a better, more mature and well-rounded version of ourselves, we can give ourselves grace and trust the ongoing process of sanctification that the Lord is doing in us. 

And when we’re excited about the future plans God has for our lives, but are having to wait on their fulfillment, we can take joy in this season and squeeze as much out of it as possible, rather than passively waiting for the next one. We can look forward to the future with hope and expectation – and begin each day right now with the same – because the God of our future is also the God of our present. 

Related Scripture

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

“But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’” (Luke 10:41-42)

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing…But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:25, 33)

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 130:5-6)