Faithful in Today.

I often find myself in this place of confusion and fear. Two places I rarely ever want to find myself in. When I feel confused and fearful, I feel out of control and anxious.

I am 26 and I can confidently say my confusion and fear stems from the immense pressure surrounding jobs and security. There is pressure to finish college on time and to finish it with a certain GPA so you can get the dream job right after you graduate. There is pressure to stay in the job right out of college because job hopping is frowned upon (so many feelings on this subject). There is pressure to stick with one dream and one goal, and if you venture outside of that dream and goal, don’t worry, you will be talked about. Gosh! Why all this pressure? Based on the endless conversations I have had with friends, I am sure we are not the only ones who feel these feelings, but I can guess millions do as well.

We are left feeling stuck, confused and fearful.

I looked at my husband last night and I told him honestly that I feel like I am messing up and there is something wrong with me. Six years ago I had this dream of what I wanted to do, and I’m now doing that dream, and I leave most days feeling so unfulfilled. Many days I wonder if it was a dream the Lord placed in my heart or if it was someone else’s dream I had to follow in. Nothing seems clear.

I wish I could tell you that when I wake up and read my Bible (on the mornings I am not rushing out of the door because I snoozed my alarm one too many times), I remember what the Lord’s placed on my heart for that day. Some days, not out of my own strength, but the Lord’s, I succeed in remembering His will for my day. Most days, I don’t remember. And of course, especially on the days I don’t remember, I am stuck in a cycle of fear and confusion and worry and doubt. That doesn’t seem hopeful. But I am writing this today to remind myself and you of what is true.

My sweet husband starting sharing a phrase with me each day that I hope encourages you — “Be faithful with what the Lord has given you today.” Not yesterday, for yesterday has come and gone. Not tomorrow, for we are not promised tomorrow. Today. The Lord has given you breath in your lungs for today. When I’m lost in confusion, fear and dread, what does it look like to be faithful with what the Lord has given me today?

Let’s start with this first simple practice — open God’s living and active Word and breathe. So many days I find myself going through the motions of sitting down and spending time with the Lord, but I rarely find myself being still with the Lord and just breathing. I mean how sweet is one of the most read verses in the Bible — “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10). To be still and know that He is God is to stop your striving and moving. It’s to recognize God’s magnificent glory in that moment and to let it carry you into each moment of your day. It’s to ultimately surrender your feelings and what ifs of the day to the sufficient and all powerful God. Oh friend, I know it’s hard to surrender. But the sound of sweet surrender is what are are after. Let your guard down, be still and see how the faithful kindness of your Heavenly Father moves you through your day.

Being faithful with what the Lord’s given you today doesn’t mean you have to become complacent if you are miserable and unhappy, but it does mean trusting that the all knowing and all powerful God has you exactly where you are for a reason and on purpose. It means trusting that He is preparing you for what is to come. So often, as believers, I think there’s this mindset of — “If God has put me here, I have to stay here forever and it doesn’t matter if I am miserable, I have to do it anyway.” I think, yes, there are seasons the Lord does place us situations that are stretching and create great growing pains. But I do not believe that God does this to limit our ability to enjoy the good things he has for us! I truly believe the growing seasons are what strengthens our faith for later days. If we cannot be faithful with the growing pains of the day, why do you believe you will be faithful with the easy that might come later? Luke 16:10 clearly states, “One who is faithful in very little is faithful in much, one who is dishonest in very little is dishonest in much.” It is God’s promising work in you during the growing pains that will carry you into whatever is next — whether it’s a new job, a new relationship or simply the next day.

I will be the first to admit that the phrase my husband says goes in one ear and out the other many days. But to dwell on the words as I am writing this, goodness, I see clearly how each day is a vapor in the wind. What we choose to do with our day truly is up to us. I can choose to sit in my confusion and fear about my current situation, never even noticing that what God is doing in me is greater than I think. Or — I can choose to acknowledge the growing pains of this season, wrestle with them and sit in confidence that God is on the throne, He has already written my story and He is just simply not surprised by my confusion and unknowing. I can choose to be faithful with where the Lord has placed me today and who He has placed in front of me, not relying on my own strength, but in His alone. I admit I am so weak, but in my weakness, His power is made strong. Therefore I will boast in my weakness so Christ’s power may rest upon me. For I am content in my weakness and hardships. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

I believe prayer is one of the most powerful tools we have as believers. I hope you pray this prayer over yourself and others around you. No matter the seasons we are in, may you remember to be faithful with what the Lord has given you today — for today is all we have. x

God, will you please remind us of your faithfulness today and carry us through whatever season you have placed us in? Whether the season is a thriving, colorful season or the season is a tearful, growing pain season. Will you meet my friends and me exactly where we are, and turn our eyes upon you? Will you help us to be faithful with what you have given us today — with a little or with a lot. If we are in a growing season, will you help us see if we are supposed to remain where we are or will you give us a light that is pointing us out of the tunnel? If we are in a season of joy, will you increase in us so that your joy may be engulfed in others? We love you, we trust you and we remain hopeful.

Amen.