It didn’t matter how happy that YouTube exercise influencer sounded, I wasn’t motivated to do that workout. I looked down the hallway at my bed and wondered if it was still warm under my bedcovers. Still, I laced up my shoes and waited for the music to begin. Like a robot, I mechanically swung my arms as directed. My feet shuffled to the beat. My thoughts, however, continued to march to a completely different drummer. A steady mental cadence tapped demotivating thoughts. Quit-Now. Warm-bed. No-one-will-ever-know. The pull to quit was so strong. But, I knew that I would feel better when I was done.
Motivation is a fickle thing. A funny thing, too. Like, why don’t I need motivation to eat ice cream? My favorite ice cream stand opened a few weeks before Spring officially started. I did not need any positive self-talk to convince myself to drive 20 minutes across town to stand in line (in my winter coat) to order an ice cream sundae. On the flip side, I own a 128-ounce water jug with positive reinforcement messages on the side like “you can do it,” “keep going,” and “stick with it.” I need water to stay alive… but apparently, that isn’t enough for me to want to drink it.
Here’s what I’ve noticed in my life:
Often, some of my most memorable blessings happen when I’m unmotivated to do something, but I do it anyways. Is this true for you? Have you reluctantly agreed to go to a conference, a meeting, or even a Bible study, and there was that moment when you heard, saw, or felt something that made a meaningful impact on your day or life? There’s something about doing it anyways…
Last week, I woke up on Sunday morning with an unusual heaviness in my heart. I didn’t want to go to church, but I forced my feet over the edge of the bed and fumbled my way to getting dressed. As I walked into church, a little mental drumbeat tapped Turn-around. Just-leave. No-one-will-ever-know. Still, I wedged myself past a few people into a row and sank into an empty seat. A sigh escaped. Welp, God, I’m here.
I didn’t have anything to offer God that day other than my warm body sitting in that seat.
Forgive me for saying this, but that church service did not change my life. It didn’t. But, being present did shift something inside of me. Listening to worship, receiving God’s Word, and then feeling the love and energy of God’s people changed my attitude. By the time I left, my thoughts were in a better place.
Funny how I didn’t want to be there, but God blessed me anyways.
In John 1, Jesus invites strangers to become His disciples with the invitation to “come and see.” He didn’t require them to get it together or even fix their attitudes. Jesus’s invitation wasn’t based on a regimented schedule of daily Bible reading plans or rituals. He simply said:
“Come and see.”
John 1:39 NLT
Later, the disciples would repeat this phrase to others. They would beckon those who were curious, but also the unsure and maybe even unmotivated, to come near to Jesus. Picture the crowds coming toward Jesus to see Him and hear from Him. They’d see Jesus’s compassion and power. They’d hear Jesus’s truth and hope. No one was required to get themselves together before they showed up.
For so long, God’s people tried to find salvation in the scrolls of Scripture, but Jesus was the Savior they’d been looking for all along. Religious rituals could never reach into the hearts of people in the way the life-transforming presence of the living, breathing Emmanuel in front of them could. When the people came to see Jesus, the lost, hurting, tired, and broken were met with love from heaven that healed them from the inside out.
Jesus’s invitation to come and see is alive and well for you today.
“Come and see” is for the hurting, reluctant, exhausted (and even the religiously exhausted). If you’re tired of empty religion or fake Christians, Jesus wants you to experience what the pastor Eugene Peterson calls Jesus’s “unforced rhythms of grace.”
In the presence of Jesus, we stop striving for spiritual perfectionism and we savor His way of grace.
Is today your invitation to come and see, even if you don’t want to? Whether it’s tapping open your Bible app, stopping to pray, going back to your small group, or even saying “yes” to that women’s event, even if you don’t want to, come and see anyways.
Give God an opportunity to bless you.
Listen to today’s devotion below or wherever you stream podcasts.
Leave a Comment
hi! firstly – this literally made me lol – “I need water to stay alive… but apparently, that isn’t enough for me to want to drink it.” a good chuckle when starting my day is lovely. 🙂
secondly – sigh…this is also an answered prayer for a confirmation that I DO need to do the thing I really super don’t want to do, but I know it’s important for the other people involved that I do participate in the event. and there’s really no good reason to not say “yes” except my reluctance of being uncomfortable & inconvenienced for a bit. c’est la vie.
have an awesome day! 🙂
Arian, drinking water is real hard for some of us – ha! I’m glad that today’s article gave you a reason to smile. I’m also glad that today’s article confirmed something that you’ve been wrestling with. Thank you for sharing your comment with us.
It’s like you were inside my head!! Besides being resistant to drinking all that water, as I write this there is an invitation in my email to attend an event that I really don’t feel like doing. But I know, sort of, that once there, I’ll probably be glad I chose to attend. I guess it’s time to rsvp with a yes and at the very least, my dear friend who asked me to join her, will be delighted.
Isn’t it wild how God sends us the encouragement that we need when we need it?! I’m praying that your attendance at the event does bless you – and that you are open to allowing God to use you to bless others. Thanks for joining us on (in)courage today!
Thank you for this word today. Yes, when I “do it anyway “, I am always blessed even if it was something I wasn’t very excited about. If I listen to my feelings and don’t participate in what God is calling me to do, then I have regrets and wish I had been stronger than my flesh. Today, I will purpose in my heart to listen to the Lord and “come and see”, even if I don’t really feel like it.
I hope you all have a wonderful day!
Judy, that’s so, so good! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us – your words encourage us today!
I loved this article! Barb hit the nail on the head for me ~ and I love her humor!
Thanks for the encouragement, Barb! (I only wish I could print it off and keep it
in my Bible.)
Judy, I’m glad that you enjoyed today’s devotional. We’re so happy that you’re a part of our (in)courage community. You can print this off with your printer if you’d like to save it 🙂
Such a good word! It reminded me that often as God’s sheep, we can spend a lot more time checking out the fences like a border collie, instead of enjoying and resting in the green pastures He has prepared for us each day. And yes, coffee is always easier to make and drink than that water my body is craving:). Thank you!
What a fun analogy, Charissa! Yes, we can run around doing all the things instead of showing up for what God has waiting for us. Thank you for sharing!
Barb,
I appreciate your honesty. Been there more times than I can count in struggling to find motivation. In fact, some seasons seem to be harder than others.
Thank you for sharing!
Lisa
You’re welcome, Lisa! It is SO hard sometimes to keep showing up. Praying that today’s words continue to encourage you as you keep showing up for all that God has for you!
Barb, this really resonated with me. I have felt this exact way! Putting yourself where you need to be is maybe more than half the battle. This is also beautifully written. Thank you for sharing your insights with us in such an artistic way!
Well said, Irene! Showing up is half the better and showing up is what puts us in position to experience God’s blessing.
Barb, thanks for summing this all up so perfectly (and making me laugh)!
Cheyla, you’re welcome – and we love that you’re a part of our (in)courage community!
Wow!! God is always SO Timely. I didn’t even want to read the devotional, lol. This is exactly where I am and you put words to my worn out heart ❤️ Thank you. I made a short list of the areas I “didn’t ” want to show up in thos week. Sigh… he always meets us.
Love and blessings
Dawn, thank you for sharing your comment. Isn’t it so God to know what kind of encouragement that you needed today. Thanks for joining us on (in)courage!
Thanks for saying so well how I often feel. Too cute! That ice cream desire and drive as opposed to the need for water. Loving it!
Come and see! With that calling on our lives we are blessed. I needed this. Be blessed!!!
Olivia
Awwww Barb I love this. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for the reminder….
“Jesus’s invitation to come and see is alive and well for you today.”
Since we moved to another town, I’m farther away from my friend I used to walk with every Tuesday. I’m farther away from my women’s study and church and dinner with friends. I admit it’s hard to be motivated. I think of the drive and traffic and getting home late AND….”Like, why don’t I need motivation to eat ice cream?” !!!! Right!?
Is today your invitation to come and see, even if you don’t want to? Yes \0/
Barb,
It takes motivation for me to drink a lot of water. That is unless there is tea & some sugar or hot cocoa in it (ha ha!) For many years I wasn’t motivated to read my Bible. Now I just go to Biblegateway.com & listen to it while doing something else. More than that I enjoy & truly want to do it.
This hit me: “Often, some of my most memorable blessings happen when I’m unmotivated to do something, but I do it anyways.” I volunteer with Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry on Fridays. Some Fridays it is hard to motivate myself to go. But I usually do because I know somehow I get a blessing out of it. I can talk with other volunteers, pray for everyone, give hugs to those receiving the food. It truly blesses my heart to know I’m doing the Lord’s work.
Blessings 🙂