Stay Present

I got hit with a reeeeeaaal hard truth recently, I realised that I had been so focused on the future, on the next step, on the things that I was waiting for to happen, that I had completely missed everything that God was doing right where I was.

My head was in the future, but God wasn’t done with my present.

He was doing so many kind and amazing things all over the place, and I was totally missing it. Frustration and impatience were robbing me of so much goodness.

I was bored with the season of waiting that I was in, but God simply wasn’t.

So, I have a question for you: Is your head in the future? Are you so focused on where you want to be that you’re paying no attention to where you are? If your answer is ‘yup, that sounds pretty familiar’ then the chances are that you’re missing out on so much, and you probably haven’t even realised it.

I truly believe that God has got BIG things in store for you, I’m sure that your future seasons are going to be wonderful and that you’re going to bloom into everything that God wants you to be.

Whether it’s starting a new job.

Finishing education.

Moving to a new place.

Going on a new adventure.

The arrival of a special person, perhaps.

Whatever it is, I’m super excited for everything that God has got in mind for you. You have full permission to look forward to the things that are yet to come, with God in control of your next seasons – why wouldn’t you be excited?!

But here’s the trick: Don’t live for the things that haven’t happened yet, that will only turn all of your excitement into pure frustration.

God is crazily excited about your future because he knows exactly what he’s doing with you (he’s been at this whole ‘being God’ business a long time, you know!), but he isn’t waiting for you to get there before he starts doing amazing things. He just doesn’t work like that. He wastes nothing.

God is just as excited about the season that you’re in right now, just as you are. And, more than that- God is working in the season that you’re in right now. He’s not taking a break, he’s not impatient, he’s certainly not bored. Not even close.

So, whatever you’ve got your heart set on, whatever you’re waiting for, whatever comes next- give it to God, with expectancy and excitement. Don’t carry it around with you, don’t make it the centre of your world, step away from it, knowing that you’ve placed it in the best possible hands.

Once you’ve done that, go ahead and re-introduce yourself to the present. You may have been neglecting it a little.`

Take a breath, what have you been missing while you’ve had your eyes fixed on the future? What has God been up to? Big things or little, I guarantee he’s been up to so much more than you ever realised. If you’re really struggling with this, pray it through!

Start or end everyday just asking God to show you the places he’s been working, right where you are.

Take heart. Stay present. Don’t miss out.