Recently, God has been speaking to me about the discipline of “pause.”
Truthfully, the word had been breathed into my ears in the past. Last year, I declared “pause” as my “word” for the year. My response mechanisms had operated in an auto-pilot mode which left a wedge in familial relationships. My desire to find fulfillment in writing and friendships came at a cost. My family felt neglected.
Watching television shows and engaging in conversations which held little interest to me became easy opportunities to delve into my own interests. I realized that what appears to fulfill us can be deceiving. Even if it’s something that produces fruit.
But, just like plants, the production of fruit will cease if proper care is not given to nourish and replenish the life giving nutrients in the soil.
Sacrificing productivity can be hard. It often becomes the source of identity and motivates us to keep doing what’s necessary to maintain it.
Surrender to God demands trust that God sees what we cannot. It demands a desire to be shaped more in God’s likeness.
It requires pause.
Even Jesus did that.
So here I am again hearing “pause” whispered in my ear. This time it’s for a different reason. Nonetheless, it’s time to nourish and replenish the nutrients in my soul.
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I agree, we definitely need to make time to pause. As you say, our identity can so easily get caught up in our productivity and it’s important to pause to get a true perspective.
This was good to read. I don’t think of myself as super productive by default, but when I get in those modes, it’s so easy to neglect the beauty of pausing. Or… find ways to pause that aren’t helpful (falling into a social media time-suck, for instance). As I was writing my FMF, I felt the idea of “productive pause” whispered to me. Trying to figure out exactly what that means. 🙂
Hello from your FMF linkup neighbor! This was a good reflection.
I like “productive pause”
“Be still and know that I am God!” Pausing is so important I think that’s why God rested on the seventh day. I’m in the 35 spot this week.
Yes, even Jesus took time to pause! It’s so important for us to learn to pause, isn’t it? I wonder why it is so hard for us sometimes. Blessings to you!
Stephanie, I appreciate your transparency. Pause is becoming a necessary daily discipline for me. The Godly reward for focusing on Him even for a short time is abundant.
Isn’t it funny how we’re always talking about how we need to do as Jesus did, but we completely leave out the parts about pausing and getting away? We get so focused on “measurables” and achievements, then wonder why we feel so burned out. Thanks for this reminder.