The "Be Yourself" Challenge

What if we decided to just be who we are all the time? No matter what. Whether we get accolades or push-back, we were just ourselves? What if we stopped trying so hard to be something else... someone else? What if instead, we operated out of who God created us to be?

There is this thought that has quietly been in the back of my heart, one that I have unknowingly been operating from. I tell myself things like, “If I was like her then I would be good at___________ (fill in the blank)”, or “If I was like that, then I have ‘arrived’ and I would be good enough to lead.” I realized that many of my decisions and actions came from this place of thinking that I needed to have it all together to be able to do the things I have been called to do. But more so, what my made up version of  “having it all together” actually looked like.

I think of myself as an authentic person, you know, ‘What you see is what you get’. But I realized that I was actually trying to be someone I am not. I was trying to fit myself into this tiny little box of made up unspoken expectations that I assumed other people had for me. Like I had to reach some kind of cultural standard to be a good enough friend, leader, or even Christian. But trying to be someone you are not, trying to fit some kind of made up standard you are not even really sure exist, it’s exhausting! And a little bit terrifying.

I was operating out of a bunch of “should’s”.  I should:

• be more outgoing
• be better at conversation
• be less emotional
• smile more
• be more organized
• be less straight forward
• be kinder, sweeter, more peppy,
• only listen to worship music
• never get angry
• exercise (in matching cute clothes of course)
• do more
• be less
• have it all together by now

Trying to fit into that box meant I could never truly be myself. Can you relate? Have you ever felt small, not enough, too much or all of the above just because you were yourself?

I no longer want to operate out of “should’s” or unspoken, made up expectations. I want to operate out of who God made me to be.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)

I love Psalm 139 because it means, I am known. I am loved. I am wonderful. It means the very same for you too. There is no one else like me! There is no one else like you! I don’t need to lead like her, I need to lead like me. I don’t need to pray like her, I need to pray like me. I don’t need to worship like her, I need to worship like me! You see, I want to love who I am so I can love you better. I want to walk out who God created me to be so that you are encouraged to walk out who God created you to be!

So here is #thebeyourselfchallange! Remember in the beginning I asked, “What if we decided to be who we are?” All the time. No matter what. Let’s do it! Let’s put our energy into being who God made us to be and let our love pour from that.

I am starting with reminding myself who I am:

I am Jimmie Lee. I am mostly quiet, a little sarcastic and sometimes slow to get the jokes. I laugh when no one else does, I dance and people look at me funny, I am goofy and silly and love lame jokes. (Ask me what my favorite joke is!) I cry when I am happy, sad, mad and everything in between. In a room full of people I am usually the one observing from the corner. I love coffee, Gilmore Girls, and coloring. I have an eclectic taste in music, especially the dancing kind. My favorite outfit is a cute shirt and jeans. I have low days and bright days. I love my boys like no one else (except maybe their mammy). I am my husband’s number one fan (except maybe his mom). I am real, I listen, and I care. I am restorative by nature and love to see women set free! I am passionate about God’s grace and freedom. I sway, jump up and down, raise my hands, cry and bend low when I worship. I am fully known and yet still fully loved by the Creator of the universe! And I am so much more than what you see.

Okay! It’s your turn. How are you starting #thebeyourselfchallange? Tell us in the comments, send us an e-mail, or tag us on Facebook and/or Instagram! I am excited to hear from you all!

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose

Well, here we are in August.  Once again, I marvel at how quickly another summer seems to be slipping through my fingers.  By now, most vacations and trips have been taken.  Swimming, s’mores, and fire-fly catching (or lightning bugs, as we call them here in Pittsburgh!) have all been checked off of our “Summer Bucket List”.  Back to school ads are popping up on TV.  (This mom just did a silent cheer. And I’m not even kidding you guys.)

August also means our Women’s Small Group study at West Ridge has wrapped up.  This summer, we studied “The Armor of God” by Priscilla Shirer.  I loved, loved, loved this study!  I thought I was pretty familiar with the armor of God (and even wrote about it here awhile back: http://westridgewomen.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-ups-and-downs-of-life.html) but Priscilla’s book helped me to really dig in deep to each piece of armor.  Each week, she broke down the nuances to each part and explained the armor of God in a way that I know I will treasure for years to come.

There is one theme though, that Priscilla taught early on that has stuck with me through the 8 week study.  In fact, it came up in our very first session and I keep returning to it time and time again.  Our REAL enemy.  You see, our real enemy is not the problems we are facing, the issues that are stressing us out, or the stuff that is keeping us up at night.  Nope.  It is the unseen.  All that “stuff”, it is a distraction shoved up in our faces to keep us from recognizing the truth.  The real enemy is Satan and he is trying to distract and derail us!

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

But how can you recognize the unseen? Clear eyes, my friend. Which totally reminds me of Coach Taylor from the TV series, “Friday Night Lights”.  If you didn’t catch that show a few years back, it was about a high school football team set in the fictional small town of Dillon, Texas. (Texas forever y’all!) The phrase that Coach Taylor used to motivate his team each Friday evening when they were facing a tough opponent was: “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!” It was their rallying cry! When the team heard that phrase, they got fired up, ready to head into battle.

When I read Ephesians 1:18, Paul reminds us of just that – clear eyes! “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” (NIV)

What about a full heart? Well, Paul addresses that a short time later in Ephesians 3:17-19, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

If we belong to Jesus, our hearts are full!  The Amplified version of verse 19 translates it like this, “and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].

Oooh I love that! The richest experience of God’s presence! Filled and flooded with God Himself?! Ah, that is awesome, awesome stuff.  How could our hearts not be full?!

So if we have clear eyes (we do!) and full hearts (oh yes!) then my friends, we can’t lose! As Priscilla reminded us at our study the very first week, the victory is irrevocable.  Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead. And I know it has been said so many times but if you read the end of the Bible... It says we win in the end!  (Hope I didn’t ruin it for you if you didn’t quite get to that part of the Bible yet, lol!)  Ladies, WE CAN’T LOSE!

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Revelation 12:11 (NIV)

So as we move forward and transition from one season to the next, from one trial to the next, or one problem to the next, I’d like to encourage you to have clear eyes! Recognize the real enemy.  As the leaves begin to turn colors, pumpkin lattes start showing up, and all those issues seem to be weighing you down or distracting you, press on!  With a full heart, suit up in the armor of God for our victory is assured! We can’t lose!

Post by: Marcy Gates

Peace & Rest

Most mornings I wake up, rub my still sleepy eyes and look at the glow of my phone. Sometimes if my brain switches on too soon, I decide to put in my passcode to unlock my phone rather than just snooze my alarm. I’ll scroll through Facebook and Instagram, although I am not really sure why because no one really posts between 11pm and 7am. I wince and groan because I don’t really want to get out of bed. So, I scroll a little longer to procrastinate the inevitable. I am good at that, procrastinating the inevitable. The thought of a fresh steaming cup of coffee eventually gets me out of bed. That and the fact that I have now wasted too much time and have only half the time to get ready.

On these days, social media and culture have stolen my attention by 7:30 am and I can’t say it is always life giving or good for my soul. As I am off and running, there is work, then errands, dinner and chores, building Legos and fixing forts and by the end of the day I am spent. As I try to rest my head at night, I have so many thoughts swirling through my head... I just can’t even. I start out on my stomach with my head to left, then I switch it to the right. I turn to my right side with my knees pulled in tight then toss to my left side pushing my legs out straight. I might do this twice (it’s like a 20 minute process people!) before I finally drift off to sleep.

I would bet that many of you find this routine strangely familiar. (Maybe not the bed time tossing and turning, but the daily routine in general?) We have so many things competing for our attention, it is so easy to stay distracted, busy and at unrest. We hear about this story and skim through that article. Put out that fire and mop up this mess. When we finally settle in with our third cup of joe (or maybe that’s just me!) our phone dings 4 times in a row with something else that needs our attention.

Even though I love the small quiet moments, I’ll be honest I don’t always do rest well.

Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27 (NIV)

Observing the Sabbath was commanded to us, yes, but the command was given as a blessing.

“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:11(NKJV)

God has set apart a day of rest to bless his children. I really love that phrase, set apart. It means this day is supposed to look different, feel different... BE different. No striving, no fussing, no distractions or things pulling us in all directions. Just you and Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath and rest.

I want to do rest, well. I want my Sabbath to look different from my other days. Because I believe that in His rest, we find peace. And God’s peace makes us walk differently.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

How can you begin to incorporate the Sabbath into your life? If you already set apart this day, how has it helped you throughout the rest of your week? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments…

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni

If Luck Is All You Have...

A few weeks ago I wasn’t feeling too well.  And what do we do these days when we are sick? That’s right! We input our symptoms on WebMD! Then promptly receive the diagnosis that we’re dying, lol! I’m kidding. Usually it will tell you to seek the opinion of a doctor.  So after going back and forth about what I should do, I finally made the decision to go to the ER. 

Now this is not the exact recounting of my illness (Lyme’s Disease) and how awful I felt.  Because I felt pretty rough.  This is the story about something that struck me as fascinating during my hospital stay.  It’s about what people kept offering me… Luck.  Or shall I say, the bestowing of “good luck” sentiments upon me by just about every person I met while in the hospital.

I need to preface my story with this tidbit…  A few days before I started to not feel well, the Lord guided me to a verse during my quiet time that I held onto as that week progressed. At the time, I really didn’t know why God led me to this verse but I believed there was a specific reason for it. He gave me Jeremiah 30:17a (NKJV):

“For I will restore health to you

And heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord.”

As the next few days unfolded, I held on to that verse dearly.  I had written it down on a simple notecard, keeping it in plain view all the time.  I recalled it as I lay in bed aching.  I thought of it as I began a collection of black and blue marks on my arms from the IV’s and blood draws. It reassured me as the hours, then days went by.

As I spent time in the hospital, the doctors were having a difficult time figuring out just what exactly was wrong with me.  Despite all the unknowns though, I was comforted and steadied by the love and fervent prayers of my family and dear friends.  I knew that whatever the doctors diagnosed me with, that God was with me.  I was confident that He would heal me just as He said in the verse He given me a few days earlier.

But there was something that really stuck out to me while I was in the hospital.  It seemed like every person I came in to contact with be it a nurse, a doctor, the food service worker delivering my meal – they all would wish me good luck as they left me.  In fact, I was bid “Good luck!” so much, I was starting to wonder if I had somehow in my feverish state, wandered into a casino instead of a hospital!

If a tech would finish drawing my blood, he’d depart and say, “Well, good luck to you.  Hope you feel better!” Or as my nurse would finish her shift and leave, she would walk out of my room saying, “Good luck!  I hope you get well soon!”

Now, I know in our society, it can be frowned upon to share your faith in the work place.  I mean, I certainly wasn’t expecting any of the hospital staff to offer to pray for me or mention God really at all.  (Which can I just pause and let the heaviness of that statement kick in. I don’t know about you but that kinda makes my heart a bit sad.) But the mention of luck happened so often, I began to wonder, if I wasn’t a Christian, and so called “luck” was all I had, how in the world would I make it?

I mean, there I was, so sick it warranted a few days in the hospital.  I had full confidence God would heal me because He told me in His Word He would!  I had the love of the Father comforting me and strengthening me.  I knew that whatever the future would hold, no matter what my diagnosis would be, God held my future.  And that was enough for me.

But you guys, there are so many who don’t have that.  They are desperately holding on to luck.

My hospital room was semi-private and half way through my stay, I had a roommate.  We shared our stories with each other of how each of us ended up in the hospital.  She was as eager to leave the hospital as I was.  Her doctors would inform her that with luck, she’d get to go home the next day.  She was clinging to that.  She wanted to get out of there in the worst way.  From my bed across the room, I silently petitioned God to heal her and restore her.

When the next day arrived, I had a diagnosis and discharge papers.  I packed up and left our room, heading home.  While my roommate sadly, lay in her bed.  She was still hooked up to monitors and going home was not going to happen for her that day.   We said goodbye and she (of course) wished me “Good luck!”

Ladies, what do you think I said?? 

I looked her in the eyes and warmly told her, “I hope you get to go home soon!  I’ll be praying for you!”

Sweet friend, if luck is all you are holding on to today, may I suggest another way?  Because, when it all comes down to it, if luck is all you have – then really, you have nothing.  There is no such thing as luck but there is a Savior!  A Savior who is so much better than so-called luck.  Jesus - mightier than anything we face! He is with us, He is for us, and He will never leave us! He is our hope, our healer and with Him all things are possible!

Ladies, if you need prayer or if you have questions, the Bloom Ministry is always here for you, please email women@westridge.cc. We love you!

Post by: Marcy Gates

The Comparison Trap

Comparison. It can be hard not to compare ourselves with those around us. Particularly in our current culture. We have our little circle that encompasses where we live and that affects us. But there is also… The internet.

We have 24 hour access to what everyone else is doing, pinning, liking, and tweeting. Life can look beyond perfect in social media land. I probably don’t have to tell you about all of the ways ‘internet life’ can make us feel like we are failing at our own lives. Don’t get me wrong, there are very, very good things on the internet! After all, THIS blog from the Bloom Ministry is here on the internet, lol!

Social media can be a great platform for encouraging people and spurring them on toward Christ. You can also keep in touch with friends and family who don’t live close. But even with all of the good things, it is really easy to begin comparing our lives with our 1,000 plus Facebook friends, before we even realize what we are doing. I think it happens little by little. A thought here, a thought there. Then, by the end of the week or even the end of the day, we are feeling like we are less then. We get those pesky feelings of not being enough and just filled with “icky”.

Do you feel it sometimes too? Can you identify with this comparison trap we fall into? It doesn’t just happen in internet life. It can happen at the grocery store, sitting at dance classes, having coffee with a friend, or entering a church building. The comparison trap is one so many of us get tangled up in.  It is easy to think you should be doing things like everyone else. But you know what? That is a recipe for stress, shame and guilt. Things that are not of God.

Have you been beating yourself up because your kiddo's birthday is right around the corner and elaborately themed parties just aren’t your thing?  People are expecting a party and it just has to measure up to little Janie’s party that you went to last month. But you’ve been scouring Pinterest and are beginning to feel inadequate, like you are a terrible mom? Or perhaps you love cutting kiwi and bananas into palm trees for a fun snack for your littles, but your friends don’t seem to bother with all that fuss for their families. (Side note: My birthday is in August and you can invite me over for lunch anytime!)  Or what if your friend of a friend of a Facebook friend just posted awesome beach vacation pictures and you are sitting on your porch scrolling through them while on your “staycation”? Are you suddenly comparing her life, talents, etc. with yours? When the comparison trap is bringing you down, what can you do? Do what God has called only you to do!

I give these things as an example because God laid this verse on my heart and I just keep coming back to it. Galatians 6:4-5 says this in The Message version, “Make careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” Isn’t that good news?! Read it again!

God has given us all individual talents and gifts. I must say, if we are always concerned about what everyone else is doing, we can’t throw ourselves into what God has given us. Comparison can keep gaze shifting from the right and to the left instead of being fixed ahead, straight upon Jesus.

Ephesians 4:11-12, says it nicely, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ...”

When we throw ourselves into the work God Himself has called us to then we can actually help each other better! Galatians 6 (NKJV) starts out with Paul telling the church to carry one another’s burdens. He makes a distinction between the word “burden” in verse two and the word “load” in verse five. The word load indicates a job that one would be expected to have the ability to handle. It’s “doable”! The word burden indicates a job that is too heavy to carry. If we are carrying our own load, throwing ourselves into the work God has given us, then when our brother or sister finds themselves with a burden too heavy to bear on their own, we are able to come alongside them and love them through it. If we are trying to be like everyone else, carrying a load that is not our own, carrying a load on top of our own, or carrying someone else’s load all together, things start to crumble. The need to perform or meet a standard that has not been set by God, becomes burdensome and we can falter.

It is important also to “make careful exploration of who you are”. The way we do this is by seeking God and asking Him who He made us to be. This is the first step into walking out your identity in Christ Jesus! We can ask Him what He has called us to. And sometimes, our work can change too, depending on the season we are in.  We must ask  this question of Him often! When we know who we are, and what God has called us to, then we can walk that out in confidence. We don’t have to compare ourselves with the woman next to us, because we know the work we have been called to. But, if the woman next to us needs us to help her carry a burden, then we can do that! “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” Galatians 6:1 (NIV)

Paul also gives the church important instructions in the chapter preceding this, Galatians 5:16-26, shows us how to walk in the Spirit. By following this lifestyle, we are equipped to bear and share one another’s burden without comparison and without a negatively critical eye. When we get caught up in the comparison trap, we can bring everybody down. But, when we walk in the Spirit we are able to encourage everyone!

What are some things God has called you to? If you are called into leadership, God has placed you where you are for a reason. If you are a teacher, God gave you a passionate heart to help people grow. Whatever God has called you to, He has already equipped you with what you need.  Maybe God is calling you into a new season? Have you asked Him where it is He wants you to be? Listen to His voice and walk in that calling. We are all encouraged when one walks out their true identity in Christ! The Lord will guide and direct you where He wants you to go. You don’t have to look to the left or the right, because we are all uniquely designed by the God of the universe!

I love this quote and I see it often, “A flower doesn’t think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms” -Zen Shin

I like a bouquet of red roses. But, I stop in my tracks for a bouquet with all different types of flowers tied together. There is something about the unique differences of each one creatively put together to bring more beauty and radiance. God does the same with us. He creatively brings us together with all our unique gifts, talents, personalities and passions to bring about more beauty and radiance.

Sweet sisters, I pray that we continue to make careful exploration of who we are called to be in Christ!  I pray that we would not be puffed up or think more highly of ourselves, that we would no longer compare ourselves to the one on the left or the right, and that we would sink ourselves deep into the work God has called each of us to. I pray that we will continue to do our creative best with the life He has given us! That we would continue to walk in the Spirit, coming along side our brothers and sisters gently restoring them to Christ Jesus! I pray that we would know our Creator deeper every moment. Amen!

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni

Bloom Spotlight - Felicia Bruck

Today our Bloom/West Ridge Women’s Spotlight is on a very familiar face!  You probably know her at West Ridge from her beautiful voice, singing on the stage with the Worship Team…  I’m talking about the lovely Felicia Bruck! Worship is not Felicia’s only passion at West Ridge though.  The Bloom Ministry is overjoyed to announce that Felicia will be taking over leadership of the Encourage Ministry!  So take a minute or two and read on as we get to know Felicia and her heart for this amazing ministry that is all about encouraging and supporting moms-to-be!

Felicia lives in Hopewell with her husband, Tristan.  They are parents to an adorable daughter, Savannah, who recently celebrated her first birthday.  They also share their home with their labradoodle, Polar Bear.  In addition to being a wife and mother, Felicia works full-time outside the home as a pharmacist. 

While pregnant with Savannah, Felicia signed up for the Encourage Ministry.  During her pregnancy, she received support and encouragement from her coach.  Following Savannah’s birth, meals were coordinated by the ministry and delivered to her as well as a gift of diapers and wipes.  I think most moms can remember what a wonderful blessing it was to have a friend or loved one show up at your door with a hot meal when you were sleep deprived, emotional (hormones!), and in the first days home with a new baby ; )  And if you haven’t had that blessing, let me just say… It’s amazing!

After her baby arrived, Felicia realized her heart had taken a turn.  Not only did she desire to serve on the worship team but she was developing a heart for the women who were in the very same shoes she was in only months earlier. She was drawn to new moms and wanted to connect with them, sharing all she had learned from her pregnancy and from the ladies who had poured into her God’s truth and love during that precious time.  Led by the Lord, Felicia signed up to serve within the Encourage ministry as a coach.

It has been said that every pregnancy and baby are different. And that is so true…  Felicia discovered that the reality of motherhood was very different than what she had expected and what she saw other new moms around her experiencing.  In the stressful and challenging times, she reached out to her family and friends.  She was blown away by the outpouring of love.  She understood the value of the support she received, not only as a new mom but during her pregnancy too. Felicia knew how blessed she was by it.  But she also recognized there were some moms who were on their own in that area.  It was there that she realized she wanted to pass that support and love on to other women and her heart for the Encourage ministry grew.  Felicia shared, “As a leader and as a volunteer in the group, just to see the appreciation from the mom’s heart is so rewarding.  You know that you are helping, but to just feel that is so great!  Plus it is a chance to be a part of a birth story! To be a part of that child’s life before they are even born. To be praying over that child before they are born.  And to be speaking life over that mom before she becomes a “mom”!  It is just one of the greatest privileges that can ever be given.”

As leadership of the Encourage ministry transitions from Shannon Harsh, to Felicia, there is excitement about what God has in store and a sense of gratitude for the foundation that Shannon helped to set in place.  Felicia says, “This ministry is really more than just bringing meals to new moms.  It’s really about having people come alongside a pregnant mom and lead them, guide them, letting God speak through you to that mom.  Our big goal right now is just to encourage people to get involved and to know that there is a role for them in this ministry.”  From coaches to meal takers to prayer warriors to post-partem support, there is a place for everyone to get involved.  Felicia adds, “There are so many ways to be a part of this ministry.  We just love moms and babies!  If you love moms and babies too, we’d love to have you join us!”  Commitment for this ministry can range from just one day to a year, it really is up to you and how the Lord is leading you.

We can’t end our time getting to know Felicia without having her answer the Super Six questions!!!  Here we go…

1. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Night owl!

2. What was the last book you read? “Beauty By the Book: Seeing Yourself as God Sees You” by Nancy Stafford

3. What is your favorite way to relax? Taking a bath by candlelight or maybe rocking in my rocking chair on my porch.

4. What would you have for the perfect meal? My husband’s chicken parmesan, spaghetti, salad, lots of garlic toast and chocolate anything for dessert!

5. What is your favorite Scripture to meditate on in times of stress? “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

6. What is your favorite thing about West Ridge? It’s home and a family!

If you would like to become a part of the Encourage Ministry Team, contact Felicia today at felicia.bruck@westridge.cc

When Love Moves Slow

Music is something that is always in the backdrop of my life. Even as a teenager I would use song lyrics to help me get through different seasons or situations. Today, I will often listen to a song on repeat if the lyrics speak to my heart in some way. Often times another person’s art will spark my own creativity and allow me to put words to something that I couldn’t before. This post is one of those moments…

My faith is not a fire

As much as it’s a glow

A little burning ember

In my weary soul

And it’s not too much

It’s just enough to give me hope

Because your love moves slow

Yeah, your love moves slow

So I move slow

Because you move slow

Love moves slow

Let’s move slow

- Audrey Assad, "Slow"

We live in what some might call a microwave culture. We are accustomed to instant gratification and we want nothing less. I grew up with a similar attitude. I took piano lessons when I was younger. I liked piano. I wanted it to sound beautiful when I played. But, I didn’t want to put in the long hard hours of practice. I wanted the end result, without the discipline.

Recently I have come to the realization that I tend to approach life the same way. When watching a movie or reading a book, if the story line is too slow, I get distracted or busy doing something else. One corner of my bathroom is painted while the rest is left undone. I start an exercise plan only to throw it out the window in a week when I don’t see results on the scale. I want the end result, without the discipline.

If I am honest, I tend to approach my relationship with God much the same way. I want the end result, without the discipline. Can you relate?

Sometimes, the Father’s love moves slow. And if I am rushing to the end, trying to get all the answers, spinning and twirling to come out on top, I’m going to miss it. Kind of like the DJ changed the tune to Etta James’ At Last (my favorite) and I am still doing the Electric Slide!

When He moves slow, I want to move slow too. I don’t want to give into my microwave instincts of instant gratification, impatiently thinking that nothing is going on. God is in all of the details. It may seem slow to us, but God IS moving. The details matter to Him.

Our love story with God lasts forever and forever is a long time.

I am not who I was, I didn’t come this far on my own and it didn’t happen overnight. He is working it all out for the good of those who love Him, for the faithful and steadfast.

Recently, I have been feeling a shift from God. I have been feeling His whisper to slow down, to let the Holy Spirit lead this dance. I get frustrated and weary when I try to do it all on my own. But, when I purposely slow down, I can hear His voice more clearly. Then I am able to see Him in the details, right where He has been all along. 

Slowing down might look different for all of us. It could look like cutting back on the amount of hours you work, or saying “No” to a full weekend. It could look like incorporating a purposeful Sabbath or cutting out social media. Maybe there is one area God is asking you to focus on like family, serving, or ministry. Sometimes it could just be getting quiet before the Lord and allowing Him to minister to you.  

So if you are in a season of waiting, of slowness, or quiet, look for those embers of hope. Look for God in the details. He is waiting there with you. We don’t have to live our lives trying so hard all the time. We can rest in Him.

"You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me." (Psalm 119:114 MSG)

Does this resonate with you? Do you feel as if you are rushing to the finish line like this race is a sprint rather than a marathon? Have you felt the whisper to move slow, letting God take lead? Let His Word wash over you with mercy and grace. Amen!

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni