Peace, provision, and plans - these are the three words that I can honestly say have been bombarding my thoughts, drowning my dreams, silencing my unspoken desires, stealing my energy, and distracting me from precious moments.
Peace from chaos. Provision in my bank account. Plans, elaborate step by steps, to determine the unknown. These all seem like noble things to strive for which they are, but we are not called to obsess ourselves with these goals to the point that we live for them.
These goals should be a byproduct of living not the reason why we live.
I have been living in a state of belief that if I attain these three things, peace, provision, and plans, life will be secure and less unpredictable.
Guess what? Life isn't this easy nor are these three goals always attainable. This past month I found myself...
faking peace, forging provision, and forcing plans.
The more I strived, the more I felt stressed.
I replaced quietness with questions.
I replaced contentment with financial splurges.
I replaced God's presence with my obsession with needing to have it all figured out.
It began to dawn on me that I am not the keeper of my future. I don't have the final say. I can't tell the future, so why draw further away from the One who has my peace, provision, and plans?
Desiring peace, provision, and plans is human instinct; it is our natural tendency to obsess over these things, but these goals should not be what inflates or deflates our passion and inspiration for life.
We are more than peace, provision, and plans.
I saw myself scrambling and hoarding the scraps life throws at me when God had an immaculate banquet table set for me; I just have chosen not to follow His lead.
I encourage you to "let [Him] lead [you] to the banquet hall, and let [His] banner over [you] be love (Songs of songs 2:4). We are not called to be satisfied with life's scraps. We are called to eat from God's banquet table.
We live for more than just the weekend, our next vacation or promotion, whatever we anticipate for.
God was reminding me to return to His presence; there, I will find my peace, provision, and plans. I am finding myself more still, secure, and present since I am taking more time in God's presence and less time living under pressure.
Let's live for more than just fun or pleasure. These are beautiful seasons of life that we should embrace every minute of when they do come our way, but they are not our sole reason for working, living, and existing.
Fun and pleasure end. Weekends conclude in a flash. Vacation memories become a blur. Promotions lose their novelty. Goals are met and new goals are created.
I truly believe that God desires to impart something in us that is far more lasting, eternal, that surpasses even the touch of time, that does not fade with weekends, vacations, promotions, or accolades. His presence is far more secure than anything this world can give us; it is up to us to notice, recognize, and return to Him.
Live in and for His presence, so we can be truly present.
“How much more pleasing is Your love than wine, and the fragrance of Your perfume more than any spice.”