Welcome back to Live Full Die Empty, where we believe in filling our cups with peace, not just coffee! Speaking of peace, to keep the peace this past week I had to shift. And if I’m being honest I had to do it several times.
Case in point, it took a lot for me not to title this blog Butt Whooping. I had to think for a minute… that might invite an entirely different audience than I want here. LOL! Everybody needs Jesus right?
So, what do you do when life feels like it’s moving at a snail’s pace? I mean you’ve got your plans, your to-do list, and then, boom—life throws in a delay, and suddenly you’re playing the waiting game. Or you’re mentally riding the merry-go-round, looking at the ponies and the mirrors and the lights and can’t seem to get off.
This past week has been quite interesting, to put it mildly. My Spiritual Father told me that situations arise in your life as teachers. They show you where you are and where you are not. He says that heaven asks the question, “Are they ready?” And our lives- our habits and behaviors answer for us. Well after last week I definitly know that I have some areas for improvement.
As a Christian Life Coach, I know the importance of setting SMART goals, tracking milestones, and measuring progress. I know the importance of prioritizing responsibilities and managing tasks. Well, I did very little of that last week. I was really distracted and avoidant for several days. Am I the only one? I spent way too much time on social media, scrolling mindlessly, not giving attention to things that were both important and impactful. In fact I was on the other end of the spectrum entirely. I spent a lot of time doing things that were neither important nor urgent. Who does that?
Well God had to get me together. In other words, I got my butt whooped. He had to remind me that I tend to be a control freak. He also reminded me of how things turn out when I think I’m in control. Yikes! So around the latter part of the week I shook myself. I had to do like David and encourage myself. I realized I was feeling overwhelmed. It wasn’t to the point of depression, but to the point of task paralysis. That’s when you have so many things that need to get done that you’re not sure where to start and you become debilitated. Ugh. I had to pause, breathe and remind myself of my daily affirmations, “Exceedingly and abundantly is my portion. Peace is my portion.” Not an exceeding amount of stress and just a bunch of stuff to do. No! Exceedingly good things. Abundantly blessed and loved.
See, we often get so wrapped up in our own thoughts that we forget who’s really in control. We make decisions, set goals, and when things don’t go according to *our* plan, we start to panic. But guess what? God sees the whole picture, while we’re just trying to read the fine print. So, when I’m faced with delays or tough decisions, I’m learning to take a deep breath, pray, and trust that God’s got this—even when I don’t. It’s not easy—especially when you’re someone who likes to have all your ducks in a row—but I’m finding peace in knowing that His timing is perfect, even if I don’t understand it at the moment.
So, once I got my head back on straight I was able to get back in the game. It was still a push, but I had made up my mind that I was not about to write the week off as a loss. That’s not my story. I’m a creative. I’m a producer. I’m a finisher. Heck, I’m building an empire. I’m changing lives. There are no days off in the soul work business. Even when I try to wander off, my heart flashes a big ON sign. And like a tractor beam, it draws my tribe in closer and closer.
Quote:
“Every race is a lesson in becoming a better athlete whether it’s running faster, training harder or overcoming setbacks.”
This week’s quote comes from track and field Olympian Kenny Bednarek. He and many others were disappointed in his performance in the 4x100m relay as he and Team USA were disqualified for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. That news came as a crushing blow, but he walked away with a lesson learned and a drive to do better next time.
Which brings me to my gratitude thought for the week. Kenny lost his chance at a medal for being somewhere he shouldn’t have been. I know people who lost their lives for the same reason. And coming from where I’m from, I’m so glad that this too is not my story. It easily could have been me, but God spared my life. More than once!
I’ll leave you with one final thing. There’s no such thing as uncertainty to a believer. We have blessed assurance that God is always working things out for the best good. Remember this: God’s not just with you in the outcome; He’s with you in the process. And honestly, that’s the best place to be. Hang in there, trust the process, and keep the faith!
Peace be unto you Friend.