I’m sitting in a coffee shop on a lovely morning. I open my laptop and immediately feel my heart rate speed up. The day has just begun and I already feel behind. I worry I’m not doing enough, fast enough, and that somehow I’m messing up God’s will for my life. Shouldn’t I be farther along by now?
It feels vulnerable to share that here, yet I have a feeling I might not be the only one who’s ever felt that way. If that sounds like you too, let’s take a breath and tell ourselves something new:
You’re where you’re supposed to be, doing what you’re supposed to do.
That is true no matter how much pressure from social media you feel. It’s true no matter what expectations have been placed on you. It’s true even if you’ve messed up, taken detours, doubted yourself, and second-guessed your decisions a thousand times.
Let’s take a look at the story of the Apostle Paul in Scripture. He encounters Jesus on the road to Damascus, and surely he’s instantly launched into ministry, right? Not so much. Rather, Paul says, “After three years I went up to Jerusalem” and “Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem” (Galatians 1:18, 2:1 NIV).
It took Paul almost twenty more years to officially start his God-given mission, even though he was clearly called.
At age twelve, Mary and Joseph found Jesus, “in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers” (Luke 2:46-47).
It took Jesus almost twenty more years to officially start His God-given mission, even though He was clearly called.
Scholars estimate David was between ten and fifteen years old when the prophet Samuel said this shepherd boy would be the future leader of God’s people. “The Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him; this is the one’” (1 Samuel 16:12). Yet David would not become king of Israel until age thirty.
It took David almost twenty more years to officially start his God-given mission, even though he was clearly called.
As humans, we’re so often in a hurry. We want to do things now. But the God we serve has limitless time. He is the crafter of eternity. He does not worry about being early or late. He is not confined by seconds or minutes, hours, or a lifetime.
We can become obsessed with “wasting” time because we sense we have so little of it. Yet aren’t we part of eternity too? God knows what you’ll be doing a thousand years from now, a million, a trillion. Why should He be worried when you stop for five minutes to laugh with someone you love, to nap in the sun, to read a book, or to make soup?
God wasn’t concerned when the Savior of the world made a chair or a wooden spoon instead of preaching a sermon. He didn’t wring His hands when David wrote poetry in the wilderness. He didn’t tell the Apostle Paul to hustle when he still had healing to do from years of following a legalistic religious system.
Our great and tender God is not trying to force you to maximize your life. He is instead inviting you to intimacy with Him in every moment. His rhythm is one of love and grace at a pace that won’t destroy your soul. He’s not asking you to try harder or do more. He spoke the world into being — what trouble does He ever have with His to-do list?
You are not doing anything wrong if it seems like it is taking a long time to fully step into your calling even though you know what God wants you to do.
Jesus was perfect, and God’s plan for His life still did not move fast. David was chosen, and God’s will for him was still a long process not an instant event. Paul had a supernatural encounter that left him changed forever, and God’s ministry in his life still unfolded over decades not days.
God, from a human perspective, is often wildly inefficient. He cares more about eternity than efficiency. You can cast off the guilt you sometimes feel for not going far enough, fast enough. It is not from the Maker of your soul.
Breathe deep. Be where you are. Call it enough. It is an act of faith to trust you are where you are supposed to be today, doing what you are supposed to be doing.
What a beautiful reminder today, Holley, thank you!
As an Enneagram 3 I constantly need devotions like this one.
His rhythm is one of Love & Grace at a pace that won’t destroy my soul.
And He cares more about Eternity than efficiency!
Today I will focus on intimacy with Him in my moments! ❤️
So glad this was helpful to you, Catherine! Thank you for reading!
Thank you,Holley!!! I so needed this today!! I feel that I’m lagging behind often, especially when I see what other Christian women are doing for the Lord. This devotion gave me peace!!!
How timely. And such a good reminder.
This whole thing. Such a tender and insightful message. Just, thank you. Thank you so much, Holley.
Especially loved your last paragraph
AMEN! So true! I was watching the movie Miss Potter again after quite a few years when it hit me that in the movie they say she’s 32 when she was getting her first book published, but when I looked it up sources say she was 35! This led me to think about all the other women that are “famous” authors and writers or what have you and how old they where when they accomplished whatever it was that began their achievement and how many years they lived and worked and waited. It’s amazing how in your mind you think they are young teens and or in their early twenties and that as you age you’re behind and not going to achieve anything and yet the ones we see as achieving much usually did it later in life.
Even Moses was 80 when he spoke to Pharaoh! 😉
Yes, there are so many stories of people doing beautiful, powerful work later in their lives!
Wow. The timing of this message could not have been better. I was just journaling this morning about how I feel like I should be farther along, and was berating myself because I veered off course for several years and have been struggling to step into my calling. After I closed my journal, I picked up my phone, checked my email, and saw this article. I honestly feel like the Lord was speaking directly to me through this. This line in particular: “You are not doing anything wrong if it seems like it is taking a long time to fully step into your calling even though you know what God wants you to do.” Thank you so much for writing this!!
I love it when God gives our hearts the words we need at just the right time. I’m grateful my little post could be part of that for you!
Dear Holley…………What a perfect encouragement story for me. It almost seems like you know me and what guilt I often feel, but all of your references to the Bible showed me that this isn’t God who is hurrying me, it is me who is doing what I think should be done NOW. I will definitely save this one to refer to. Unfortunately, the place I am living at does not have enough space for a printer. You women that send us these stories are really super fantastic. I always get something out of them. I feel a little jealous of your true best friends. They are really lucky. I have finished the journal, “100 Days of Strength in Any Struggle.” Journaling has helped me tremendously. Thank you Holley. I am so touched that God connected me with all of you women. Please have a Blessed Day and I will continue on with my journey. I am 76 years old………………..Betsy Basile
Thank you for this, Holley! I am 72 and I often feel like I’m “running out of time”. But you have encouraged me: that my fear does not come from God. That sounds true!
Dear Irene
Thank you for your reply on this devotion.
You have encouraged me further.I am 67 and was feeling time passing so quickly especially as we have a son with mental health issues.
Thank you for reminding me that there’s plenty of time for God’s plan.
Bless you
Thank you Holley. OMGOSH the timing….”Faith in God includes Faith in His timing” The last year has been just that!
My husband and I have been really challenged to Give it ALL to God and to trust his timing. It’s hard. The world says “do the work, get the grade, lose the weight, look beautiful, buy the house, climb to the top and win, don’t be lazy” and you will be rewarded. So we do do do do thinking I’ll get what I want and need when I want it because I worked for it!
God wants us to want and need Him and that includes.. STOP. WAIT. LET IT GO. TRUST….
….and “Have Faith in MY timing” okay…I’ll obey…
Thank you Jesus \0/
Oh Holley, thank you for writing this! I felt such a relief wash over me as I read it! I am where God wants me to be. ❤️
YES. God’s timing isn’t hustle-culture timing!
(that said, Acts 9:19-20 indicate that while Paul did not check in with the apostles, he was preaching pretty immediately. I think the main point in Galatians is that he didn’t – and didn’t *have to* – get “certified” by the official original apostles before getting going, because instead he was certified by God.)
Thank you for this – I’m way “behind” on a lot of things, and I appreciate the reminder!
Thank you for pointing that out, KC! I will definitely go check out those verses!
I am sure I am where I am supposed to be but not where I was hoping to be so that is still hard.
Yes, that is absolutely so hard, Rebecca.
Thank you, Holley. I needed to hear this.
Holley,
This post reminds me of an Alabama song “I’m in a Hurry (and Don’t Know Why). Chorus: I’m in a hurry to get things done
Oh, I rush and rush until life’s no fun All I really gotta do is live and die Even I’m in a hurry and don’t know why. That song so resonates with me. I’m always rushing here and there. Looking around me & seeing where everyone else is, (at a younger age) I cringe about my past I feel I wasted lots of time. We can’t go back & change things so I must trust God that He has me where He wants me for now. Just sit back & enjoy the journey He has you on!!
Blessings 🙂