There are days when it’s hard to see the bigger Glory in what’s right here. Floors need mopped and the piles of laundry hang raggedy over the basket’s edge. I am answering the phone and mixing brownies and listening to someone else’s story, and I wonder what mine is. Can’t back up far enough to see the bigger picture, and from here it feels so trivial, looks so jumbled.
Those days I walk by faith, that there are certain things in this world that God has for me to do, and since He made me to do them, I can. And because it is His story, it is worth something….faith clutches hard to this hope. How do I keep on being faithful in days when it all seems a loss, and I wonder if anyone would even notice if I stopped walking?
Paul knew the secret of days like that: “One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal….” (Philippians 3:13-14) He used the word-picture of a race often, because it was something his readers had seen and could understand. When you are a runner you understand it on a different level. After the thrill of a strong start passes, and the end goal is still too far away to be seen, that’s where you learn perseverance. Because every foot forward, every measured breath, every response of your body means more ground gained…and you settle into the rhythm, discipline yourself to stay in the moment and not focus on the past or the future or you’ll become discouraged, frustrated with this snail’s pace…it’s just your body and your will and the pavement in front of you… until you suddenly turn a corner and you can see the end up ahead.
That’s how it is on days like this. Just do the next thing, in a manner worthy of your calling, for the glory of the One who called you– one foot in front of the other, and leave it to God to get you to the end of the race. If I keep my eyes and ears open for what He has for me to do in this moment and be obedient in the here and now, turning it all into worship, the moments have a way of flowing… one to the next, and into years….a whole story written before you know it.
“I am thankful for right now. God, I AM, is present in this moment, and in His presence is fullness of joy.” (Ann Voskamp)
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:16-17)