“Jesus answered him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.’”
– John 13:7 (ESV)
Daily Meditation: Habakkuk 2:3, Psalm 46
Women are often dreamers. God often plants a deep desire in our heart to bring meaning and beauty to situations and environments around us, but sometimes the sheer weight of our “regular” daily demands can be crushing. Does your to-do list ever look like this?
- Tackle the seemingly endless mountain of laundry
- Prepare meals and snacks for yourself and/or for others in your household
- Take everyone where they need to go
- Clean
- Exercise
- Make that doctor’s appointment
- Check on and/or care for your aging parents
- Maintain friendships and, if applicable, your romantic relationship
- Stay on top of various duties at work
Interestingly, many of the things that we see as highly inefficient “time wasters” are actually part of God’s process. The responsibilities that come with our roles and seasons of life cultivate character. Work is mentioned over 400 times in the Bible!
When I am tempted to become weary in my responsibilities, I am reminded of Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, a monk whose primary job in the monastery was to scrub pots, day in and day out, over and over and over again for years on end. But he found that his menial task was actually a high, holy opportunity to commune with God. As he scrubbed and cleaned, Brother Lawrence began to put together one of the most widely read books on the development of an awareness of the presence of God. Perhaps today we can fold our laundry, scrub our pots, or complete our exercise DVD as an act of worship, intentionally focusing our thoughts on being aware of God’s presence.
Instead of railing against our seemingly boring responsibilities, let’s look for the blessings in them. Work on cultivating your character in the little tasks and challenges along the way. Like Janet Stuart, strive to graciously accept interruptions or setbacks, and when God does bring along a new opportunity, you will have built a solid foundation for it.
“She delighted in seeing her plan upset by unexpected events,
saying that it gave her great comfort, and that she looked on such things as an assurance that God was watching over her stewardship… she was joyfully and graciously ready to recognize the indication of God’s ruling hand, and to allow herself to be guided by it.”
– from The Life and Letters of Janet Erskine Stuart
Be fearless: It is not our job to huff and puff at God when he does things his way according to his schedule. It is our job as stewards to use our time wisely and be faithful in our responsibilities.
by Julie Clinton & Dina Jones
Spend this summer growing closer to the Lord and becoming the fearless, strong, and faithful woman you are meant to be in Him! In Be Fearless, Julie Clinton provides a scripturally-sound guide for finding freedom, purpose, joy… and fearlessness. Exclusively offered by Extraordinary Women Ministries, Be Fearless is now available in our store! https://www.aacc.net/product/be-fearless/ We hope you will spend this summer growing closer to the Lord and stepping into the fearless, strong, faithful woman you are meant to be in Him.
Julie Clinton, MAd, MBA, is president of Extraordinary Women and host of EWomen conferences all across America. She is the author of several books including A Woman’s Path to Emotional Freedom, 10 Things You Aren’t Telling Him, and Extraordinary Women. She is passionate about seeing women live out their dreams by finding their freedom in Christ. Julie and her husband, Tim, live in Virginia with their children, Megan and Zach.