Life is so full. So fast. So demanding. Drive here. Pick up that. Make that appointment. Call that person. Call that person back. Try again. Plan the meals. Whoops, pick up something fast for dinner. Go to the grocery store again. Get the mail. Open the bills. Find space for your soul. Pause. Take a walk. Notice beauty. Feed the dogs, the cat, the fish, the plants. Go to work. Write the email. Navigate relationships. Pray. Pray. Pray some more. Dive into God. Get up earlier. Work out. Spend time in the Word. Volunteer at church. Scroll. Stop scrolling. Participate in your healing journey. Breathe deeply. If you are caring for someone? Double the list.

For thousands of years, the pace of life was 3 miles an hour; the pace of walking. Now it’s, what would you say? Goodness, a LOT faster.

But the soul hasn’t changed. The capacity of the soul hasn’t changed. The desires of God haven’t changed. The availability for transformation hasn’t gone away. It is, however, perhaps more challenging. At least it seems that way for me.

I needed to schedule a lunch appointment today that was mentioned weeks ago with a person I’m looking forward to being with but what rose in my heart wasn’t anticipation but irritation. Irritation at an already too full schedule.

Then came God. He didn’t come crashing in. No, I had to choose him. I sat down. I put down everything else, including my phone (the silent mode saves me). I turned on instrumental music. I shifted my gaze to fall upon Jesus and invited him into my irritation, my busy, my lack. I began to tell him how much I loved him. I loved him from the place of my irritation, my busy, my lack.

And he calmed my heart. He reminded me of his love. He came with his tender presence and his promise. I’m not on my own. I yielded my schedule to him and the pressure I was feeling of meeting demands began to dissipate. My priorities began to align. His sufficiency reset my panic and my pace. His peace began to saturate my soul as our union became the deepest reality of my heart. As Jesus invited me to breathe him in and to trust him, my heart rested in my God. I believed him and hope rose. I love him. He loves me.

Well, okay then.

Friends, remember, he loves you too.

I don’t know how you are today. Running or resting. Panicked or peaceful. But wherever you are, how ever you are, I invite you in this moment to pause. Turn your gaze to Jesus. Breathe him in. He is with you. He is for you. He’s not running at 100 miles per hour. He is walking alongside you, within you – moving at the pace of your breath, at the pace of your heartbeat, at the pace of your soul.

Jesus, I invite you to come into this moment. Invade my schedule, my emotions, my day. I need you. I choose right now to turn my gaze onto you. You are strong. You are good. You are more than enough to meet me and help me in what this day holds. I give myself once again to you and I pray to live in union with you – just as you desire. My soul rests in you. Speak to my heart. Is there anything you would like to say to me? To remind me of? Oh Jesus, I love you. I breathe you in and I listen.