Does Hump-Day find you pooped? Do you feel like a three-legged dog in a race? If so, this blog is for you. When you feel you’re grasping at the wind because time eludes you—tread carefully. It’s imperative to strive to enjoy the process. You hear me say it a lot… because I’m serious about it.
I often tell young people to seek God on what they’ll do for a living. It’s important to enjoy what you do for a living. One should enjoy work so that it doesn’t feel like work. There’ll be seasons of life when there’s not enough time. And tasks press in on you. You’ll have to push through to get to the end of the days, tasks and projects. If we don’t enjoy what our jobs, it’s hard to keep our joy.
And not every season of life is fun. There are tasks that simply require our time, care, attention, skill, love, etc.—am I right? We’re all faced with these times. In such times some will simply bear down to get through it. This is the group where people are short tempered. They snap at others because they’re mad. They’d rather be doing other things and the situation at hand is not helping that happen.
Then there are those who don’t bear down to get through it but push against it. And they murmur and complain the whole way through it. They’re so unhappy with their situation that they want all around them unhappy too.
Then others are bitter and want to blame others. They look for ways to throw blame. With time and practice they become quite skilled at this. Much of their daily routines are filled with gossip and slander.
Then others are so rigid with their time and schedules that they’re not bendable at all. They seem to crack all to pieces when things interfere with their schedule. When one encounters them, they strive to avoid future (similar) situations.
Then others seem enabled to navigate through life while keeping their joy. When things interfere, they make room. They seem flexible, bendable and pliable. What makes the difference? I think it’s entwined with Psalm 90:12, “Lord, teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” They understand that time is short. They understand we’re here by design and for such a time as this. They understand that once time has passed there’s no getting it back. Therefore, they take in every moment to its fullest.
- If they’re raising children, they do it for God’s glory… knowing the seasons of children are fleeting.
- Pertaining to the duties of marriage, they do if for God’s glory… knowing the seasons of marriage is fleeting.
- If home-schooling, they often feel they’re treading water at best. They simply try to stay afloat each day while juggling the varied duties of life. They must attend to the homeschooling task for God’s glory. There are many taskmasters in this arena. These parents juggle it all willingly. They know the school years are fleeting.
- As parents age they can become ill and frail. They navigate time for God’s glory. They understand that time is of the essence—because life is fleeting.
- As children grow, graduate, get married, have children—our families grow. The expansions of family births new seasons, traditions and growth. These families navigate time with thanksgiving. They ebb and flow because time is continuously running away from them. They prioritize their values God’s way—because eternity is in mind.
Time was not meant to be mastered. It’s a physical property of this world. We’re hindered by it and under its domain. In eternity we’ll not have the restraints of time—but here we do. Try as you may you can’t master it. Don’t get irritated by that. None of us can make more time. We all have the same 24-hour days. Try as you may, you can’t undo time or make up for the loss of it. Don’t get irritated at that—that’s a race you won’t win. Instead be grateful for it while seeking God’s glory in and through it all.
This Hump-Day Wednesday, is time kicking your tail? Perhaps it’s time to stop chasing your tail and lift your eyes to God. Ask him to renew your joy and fill you with his love. Ask him to enable you, to help you navigate your moments, his way, for his glory. And remember… Friday is always acomin’ but most importantly, Christ is coming back too!