I'm Not Where I want to Be, But It's Okay

I’ve never really been good at the whole going with the flow thing. I’m such a goal oriented person that I like to recognize what I want and then take small steps to get there. I like to plan everything.

But something strange has been happening to me lately. I haven’t been planning.

Partly it’s because I’m in a situation where I literally can’t plan anything further ahead than my upcoming week. But the most important reason for this subtle change is that God is giving me the grace to let go and trust Him. He is giving me the grace to go with the flow.

It’s strange, but liberating at the same time because I’m nowhere near where I want to be, but I’m okay with it. Usually the planner in me would be freaking out and trying to hurry through this period in my life. But I’m in no rush. I’m learning to see everything as a gift, basking in each season God brings me to.

So I ask, where are you right now? Are you in a season like me you’d rather not be in? Are you just waiting for God to bring you through it, waiting for it to pass?

Stop.

You’re missing Him in this moment. He’s here, and He wants you to truly soak in this season of your life. He’s giving you an opportunity to grow in grace, virtue and holiness, but you’re wasting it.

No, you may not be where you want to be, but you are right where you are supposed to be.

I Hate the Waiting Game

I don’t know the specifics of the season you’re in, but for me, I feel like I’m in a season of waiting. And I hate waiting. It’s hard to find purpose in your days when all you want are things in the future.

And I want so many things.

After being sidelined by an injury for several months, I just can’t wait to be healthy enough to compete on the tennis court again and start my pro career. I wish for the day when I can be financially independent and live on my own. For the day when I find the man God is calling me to marry.

I often feel like I’m waiting for these times in my life to come. Wanting them to come sooner.

But I hate that! I hate feeling like I want this time to pass more quickly. That feeling of waiting makes me feel miserable because it doesn’t let me be grateful for my current season in life and bask in the gift of the present. Rather, I become so absorbed in the thing I’m waiting for in the future.

That’s why I don’t think we should look at periods of our life as waiting. There is no season of waiting. There is a season of growth, a season of trial, a season of perseverance. But not waiting.

A couple months ago, God gave me a realization that helped me embrace my cross and current season. I felt like He was saying, “Josie, relax child. Embrace this time at home with your family. This time of singleness. This down time you have. Embrace it. Because it won’t be like this for long.”

It Won’t Be Like This For Long

Okay, so I may or may not have gotten that line from the Darius Rucker song haha but it’s so true! It brings us back to the value of the present moment whatever our stage in life.

Maybe you’re single and wanting a relationship. Unsatisfied with your job and want a better one. Married and struggling to have kids. In school and can’t wait to graduate. Working for years and can’t wait for the time in the future when you can retire.

Whatever it is, I feel you. I understand. We all want something in the future that’s just a little out of our grasp right now.

But through transfixing our eyes on something we want in the future, we won’t be able to see God work now. How will we be able to grow in virtue if we don’t see God’ presence?

I’m going to pull a quote from the great Ferris Bueller out here because it just fits well.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

The truth is, when we are just trying to “get through” a phase in life, we don’t just miss out on life like Ferris says, but we also miss out on God’s presence in each moment. We completely reject the opportunities God gives us in these types of moments to grow in virtue, to grow in holiness. And what a tragedy!

God sends us moments and challenges to bring us closer to Him, but we are so absorbed in planning and moving forward that we forget to see the great gift He has given us now.

All is Gift, All is Grace

“Everything is Grace.” – St. Therese of Lisieux

How often do we forget this truth from Therese? How often do we pity ourselves for where we are? When in reality, God just so desperately wants to shower us with grace if we open up to Him. He is giving us this wonderful gift of the present moment, but we often think it’s torture or we don’t think the present is enough for us.

So here’s my challenge for you: Let it be enough for you. Let Christ’s gift to you in the present moment be enough for you.

[ctt template=”5″ link=”Wz8vt” via=”yes” ]”Let God’s gift of the present moment be enough for you.”#beautifuldepths [/ctt]

You may not be where you want to be. I’m definitely not. And that’s okay! It doesn’t mean we have to be complacent in life. It simply means we have to take the chance to recognize God in each moment and thank Him for where we are now.

A friend of mine recently told me how shocked she was with how okay I am given my current situation. But it’s not because I’m satisfied or complacent. It’s simply because God has given me the grace to recognize His presence in the now. I’m thankful for this time of trial, this period of indefinite uncertainty, because I know God is working in my soul.

And He’s working in yours, too.

So my friend, take time today to thank Him. Thank Him for your crosses, your challenges, your present situation. And ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how you can grow in the now to create you into the saint you are meant to be.

I’m Not Where I want to Be, But It’s Okay