“For we are His workmanship [His own masterwork, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand, so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” Ephesians 2:10 AMP
It’s exciting to get caught up in the hustle of building and growing a business. The successes, however small, fuel us on. The friendships encourage us. The training helps us grow. We catch a vision and want to run with it. But when we begin to get super motivated, the pursuit of the dream can keep our eyes and desires so far forward in focus that we miss TODAY. This stress is multiplied if we are working on different goals or paths because when we work on one, we feel like we are neglecting the others.
When we step away from our own goals, we have responsibilities. We have family, friends, and business or team members who also have goals; and we are part of their lives. We want to be there to help them achieve their dreams. And somewhere in the schedule, we have to make time to rest. And time for some fun.
Is your heart rate increasing just from reading this? I know mine is from writing it. In case it’s not clear, I’m mainly writing to myself here.
So, take a deep, relaxing breath. Pause. If we really trust in God’s Word, then we should look at that verse again. He planned out the paths and prearranged the good life for us to live. When we listen to Him, we can keep a steady, even pace and let go of the things we perceive as “undone.” We can let go of stress.
Psalm 37:23 (KJV) says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.”
Isaiah 30:21(NIV) says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
I’m super excited to see where God takes me in my new business venture, but as the ideas begin to flow, so does the feeling of having too much to do and not enough time to do it. And when that produces stress, I can miss out on the present—the experiences I’m supposed to have TODAY and all I could be enjoying from them.
Ephesians 2:10 says God has prepared paths for us—more than once—and that we should walk in them. Walking implies steady progress. This is not a sprint, it’s a long-distance race.
“There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 AMP). If we allow God to order the steps of our days, He will make sure we have all the time we need for what’s important. There is a time for everything we are supposed to accomplish today, and there is a season or a path for each thing that God has planned for us to do.
So, take heart and let go of the stress and busyness. Relax into God, and let Him direct your paths—all of them. It all comes back to trust and listening. Take the time to ask God to order your steps and your seasons, and listen for His direction.