One of the blessings of having a season of transition is that it allows you time to do things that sometimes get put on the back burner when you are working full time, raising a family and trying to serve at your church or in the community. I think of it as margin. I know for me, when I am working a job full time, it is really hard for me to find margin to pour into myself. What generally suffers the most is I neglect my soul. I find myself running on an empty spiritual fuel tank.
When I worked at Target, I definitely ran with an empty spiritual fuel tank. Working for a church the last five years my fuel tank has been filled more often, still there were many times where the demands of the job and responsibilities that came with it, left me in a state of exhaustion and running on empty. I had more time to spend reading God’s word and praying. I also had worship experiences that I was able to participate in to fill my tank, but it is often hard to turn off the job and truly allow yourself to worship and take in a holy moment.
During this season I am in now, I have had time to do things that really fill my soul. I have had time to spend mornings reading God’s word and talking to Him. I have had time to listen. (That is one of the biggest things you sacrifice when you are busy and lack margin.) I have been able to take long walks and chat with God as I enjoy the beauty of His creation. I have been able to read some great books to learn from and challenge me. As a family we have been able to spend more time together since I am no longer working weekends. Beth and I have been able to have people over to our house to experience community and build relationships. I have had time to meet people for coffee and just linger since there is not another meeting I have to get to.
And what I have found, is that the things above fill my soul. I find greater peace in daily life. I have more contentment and more time to listen to God and others. I find greater joy no matter what I am doing.
While I have more free time to spend with God now, what I am learning from my studies of the Bible is that God wants me to have a filled soul all of the time, not just when I have free time. God wants me to spend time with Him. Time worshiping, time listening, time talking – a relationship. Relationships take time and I think I have often been far too busy to invest in the relationship with God that He wants from me. When I am busy and running fast, it is often more what I want from God, than me focusing on what God wants for and from me! This is something I have to continue to remember and focus on when my schedule does get busier.
Most of you are not in a place where I am today, but let me give you three things to think about:
- How is your relationship with God? Are you taking the time to talk with Him and to listen?
- How filled is your soul? If you want to learn more about this I suggest reading John Ortberg’s “Soul Keeping” or Judah Smith’s “How’s Your Soul?”.
- What is one thing you could change in your daily life to give you more margin?
For me, too much of my life has been spent chasing success, accomplishments and status. What I am learning is that in a moment, all of that can be gone. I am learning that what really matters in life is who I am becoming in my relationship with God and the impact that I can make in the lives of others.