Being present. Here. In the now.
I'm convinced that I'm not wishing my life away. I truly love and cherish my life. My struggle is that I am always just so darn excited about the next thing. It has nothing to do with being negative about the now; moreover, it has everything to do with looking forward to the future with joyful anticipation and positivity.
Since 2009, I've been able to gauge(ish) the timeline of the "next big thing" in life:
Getting back together with Mark in 2010 led to engagement.Engagement led to marriage.
Marriage led to being married! Woo!
Being married led to our self-proclaimed Year of Travel.
...Then the curve ball came: our move to Wilmington. We took it and ran with it!!
Now we're here.
I know that the next big things are buying our first home and having babies.
But I also know that it's not time for either of those things right now.
The events mentioned above [from 2010-the move]...honestly, I could somewhat gauge their timeline.
Now I've got nothing.
...Which leads this.
In prayer last night, the Lord clearly spoke these words to me:
"Let this be a season of surrender."
Goodness gracious. In my wondering of when will this or that happen...
I know that God's perfect timing will lead us to the next big things. Whenever they may be!
It's time to let go of the timeline.
It's time to let go of the timeline.
God always knows just the right time. [See Romans 5:6]
It's also time to let go of my need to constantly know and constantly control.
Surrender.
Lord Jesus, I want to live fully in this season of surrender. Help me draw nearer to You.
I'm not sure how old you are. I am old and cannot remember (see I cannot remember part of being old). As you get out of your 20's (I'm assuming your still smelling good & fresh and all things prior to the 30s) it is much easier to live in the moment and not get ahead of yourself. Trust me....oh trust me. Loves to you my sweet Elise.
ReplyDeleteI am so guilty of this as well…and have been on the pretty same trajectory as you!! It's all such wonderful things to be excited about that it's hard not to get up in things. I am with you on trying to be present and hope that we are both prosperous at it! :)
ReplyDeleteI need to do this more than ever!!! That verse is PERFECT!
ReplyDeleteJust trust trust trust
xoxo
I want to quit worrying, quit trying to control this, & quit trying to know everything at all times! Truth is I don't know it all & I can't control it all, no matter how I may try. When I try to do those things, it just makes the situation worse!! GREAT POST! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to go with the flow when you're used to having a timeline and knowing what the next step is...I think you're going to love it, it's so liberating!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely needed this today. I completely understand the "timeline" dillema. Sometimes, we just have to let God be and trust that the best is yet to come when He sees fit. Easier said than done! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post...years from now we will look back on the time of "rest" and be so thankful for those days. Sometimes life is boring, and boring is so much better than turmoil. Enjoy this time to just be present...
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I've often thought that most times I'm missing out on the best parts of my life because I'm so consumed with planning and structuring my life. I too, am learning to let go more and let God. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteYou don't know how much I loved this post, and trust me we have all been there. Specially after so many highs like an engagement and marriage, we are left with what's next? As you wait in anticipation to see what the Lord has for your lives next, being content can be very hard. I know for me it was since everyone I knew got pregnant within months of getting married, this was not the plan the Lord had for us and boy am I glad it wasn't. I loved our year alone together, I loved having a hubby all to myself for one whole year! It was the biggest blessing in that season of waiting, to get to know and grow more and more as a person and a wife! It is also a season were you have to truly guard your heart, I know it's hard with Pinterest, but i think it's so important:) Sorry for super long comment...lol.. I told you liked the post;)
ReplyDeleteTruthhhhhhh. I love this. Pinning it :)
ReplyDeletewww.wearflowersinyourhair.com
I'm the SAME way, love! Siegert's always saying to me, "Why can't you just enjoy what's happening NOW?" But I feel you! I love the hear and now, but I'm always looking forward to what's to come. I love that you wrote this. I need to print your little quote and sit it in a place where I'll see it daily. Thank you! Love you! xo
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I am exactly the same way and I'm also trying to learn to be more present and content with where we currently are in our life and our marriage.
ReplyDeleteI needed this today! It's so hard to balance that excitement/joy for the future and living in the now.
ReplyDeleteAs so many Type A people are...I am a planner. I like to prepare for what's coming next. But I risk missing out on the now.
Happy DAY to you :)
~Andrea
This Unfamiliar Road: ABFurman.blogspot.com
I love this! Gave me some things to think about today!
ReplyDeleteThank you for speaking such truth, Elise!! You're fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI am a control freak, and it is so difficult to let go... but that is the only way to experience God's plan in His way!
Tanner and I are constantly challenging ourselves to just enjoy this moment we are in. We are such planners that we jump to thinking about the next steps vs living in the moment we are in. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
What a great goal to have. Thanks for that reminder. It is something we should all strive for!
ReplyDeleteAMEN! I could not have said this better myself! So thankful for your daily reminders of God's plans for our lives!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a good reminder and definitely one I need to work on. That quote is just what I needed to hear!
ReplyDeleteThis is just beautiful Elise. I find myself being the same way...I am a huge lover of anticipating the next big thing (it's the planner in me), but it's so important to surrender our plans to God's timing and will for our lives. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteThis is something I am always trying to remind myself to do and it is so hard, but SO important! Thank you for sharing sweet lady! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI totally feel you on this. I feel like I live each day waiting on the next big thing to happen, and I want it to happen now. But I have learned the hard way that the best things come in God's own time. My resolution this year was to work on being happy about my life the way that it currently is, and to not live for the next big thing, but to learn to enjoy the little day-to-day things. It's still hard though, and it's good to know we are all going through the same thing and can be there for each other during the hard times. Gotta love the blogging world :)
ReplyDelete*clap clap clap*
ReplyDeleteProud of you! Enjoy having everything you've wanted for so long...there will always be time to add more joy!
I'm so guilty of this. Just this past weekend, I was stressing over a timeline to plan a mission trip (of all things) to Rwanda this summer. Sometimes it's so hard to let go and let God take control especially for a type A person like me.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say how refreshing it is to find ladies out here in the blogging world who are open about their faith in God and share their experiences walking in his light! So inspired! xx
ReplyDelete