A Grace Filled Pace

A lesson in running at God’s pace, not the worlds.

Hello friends,

We’ve been mis-led to believe that we can make my own dreams come true if we race hard enough and fast enough. This is often called the Hustle Culture and it is hazardous to your physical, mental and emotional state of being. I myself along with millions of others have fallen for it and suffered the consequences of it.

Does any of this sound familiar?

·       If I wake up early, stay late at work and work after my kids go to bed, I can get ahead and reach my goals.

·       If I follow these 7 steps, I’ll have the business of my dreams while working less hours.

·       If I spend 12k on a life/business coach it’ll be all sorted out and I will have found true success.

·       I just need to do one more thing; my kids/husband/friends/family can wait for me. It’ll be ok.

·       I’m doing all of this for them! Can’t they see my sacrifices? Why are they upset with me for working so much?

·       I’m so tired and stressed out all of the time. I can’t seem to keep up with anyone anymore.

·       I can’t relax, I’m too busy making my own dreams come true.

·       I have to have a side business in order to keep up. Otherwise, I’m not good enough.

It’s not a pretty picture and it’s sadly all too common place.

Hustle culture is a toxic place to dwell and it’s so predominant, you may not even realize the issues until you’re smacked in the face with the consequences of your choices. I pray this wakes you up before it’s too late friend. Maybe you need to nudge a friend or family member that you’re thinking of with concern as you read this.

We at Women Growing in Faith have been learning about a “grace filled pace” as the counter-cultural way to live life. That is, the pace in which the grace of God moves us through life without needing to meet the standards of the world. We focus instead on the heart of God and what He desires for our lives. We simplify things, we pare down our task list so that we have room for true community with God, our family and those around us.

A grace filled pace looks different for everyone, so please, no comparing.

A grace filled pace is knowing that God is really good at getting you where He needs you to be to accomplish His work. If you take faithful steps each day and consistently attend to what He’s placed in front of you, then you will get there. You’ll get there in God’s timing, not yours.

A grace filled pace is always unexpected, but it is delightful.

There is room in your soul to hear the voice of God and respond because it isn’t bogged down with endless tasks, the desire for perfection, or the rat race of life.

A grace filled pace leaves you room to breathe, enjoy God and the life He has abundantly blessed you with.

Now take a deep breath in. Hold for 3 seconds and slowly release it. Close your eyes as you do this again and imagine this unhurried pace that allows room to sit and breathe and revel in God’s presence.

It’s less stressful, less hurried, less anxious, less demanding.

I bet you’re smiling right now, aren’t you? Good, me too.

If not, you’re probably stuck wondering how you can ever get from here to there. So, let’s break it down for you.

1.     Write out your list of priorities. If God, Family and/or Friends aren’t at the top of the list then you need to reconsider them prayerfully right now.

2.     If you avidly scroll through social media to find the latest trends to replicate, delete the app and take a break for a month and see if you truly need it back or not. Instead fill that time with reading the Bible, talking to people around you or listening to music and audiobooks. You’re choice for something better.

3.     You should probably simply tear off and throw away the bottom half of your task list that’s a mile long. And let’s get realistic that it can’t all happen today and other than extenuating circumstances, it probably doesn’t Need to happen today. So, schedule it out so you have breathing room to do things realistically.

4.     The next time someone asks you to get involved/offers you an amazing opportunity/begs you to help, consider simply saying “No.” Try a season of life where you say no to anything and everything new that isn’t necessary and sit back to breathe and restore yourself and your family. Don’t let FOMO (fear of missing out) rule your life!

5.     Pray. Read the Bible. Journal. Listen to worship music. Daily! These things put down as priority tasks every day will make a huge difference in and of themselves. Do them at a time that’s best for you but do them.

Friend, you have a choice to make today. And it will take time to reorient your life to a grace filled pace if you’re willing to make the change. I promise it will be worth it. Give yourself grace to do this one step of change at a time.

Habits cannot change overnight and unless your life is truly in danger, it doesn’t need to. Set yourself up for success and make realistic goals for yourself. If you need help you can email us or phone a friend to help you walk this change in life.

Isaiah 43:1 says, ‘But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’

We are God’s chosen people; He chooses each and every one of us because He created us and loved us. God created the Garden of Eden as our originally perfect home and what a beautiful grace filled pace that life was.

Although it was a brief time in our history, I want us to look back and remember the garden as an example for how God originally intended us to live. Read Genesis chapter 2 to see that Adam was given work to do, a helper with which to do it; that’s us ladies!  

We can surmise from chapter 3 verse 8, that they regularly walked with God and talked with him. They cared for their home, ate and drank as they pleased, and it was perfection. It was a grace filled pace.

You can do this. I know you can because God wants you to walk at His pace, not the world’s. God wants to be in communion with you, but that cannot happen if you’re constantly rushing everywhere else but to His feet.

Simply stop and sit today with God. You can do this; I believe in you.

Rooting for you,

Marcie D