Today, I really want to share from my heart – no theme, rather an experience that may resonate with some of us. Please think of this as friends talking over a cup of hot cocoa.
The last year has been an adventure for me. I resigned my 9-5 in March 2020 and had plans to start out a new venture. Then the pandemic hit! It seemed like the rug had just been pulled out from under my grand plans, and with all the changes, I became “just” a mum. I’m really thankful for that season because it helped me clarify my priorities, re-discover my identity beyond my job title, and forge a tighter bond with my family. Amid what was a turbulent season for most, God then led me to start writing and opened several platforms of expression for me. 2020 was a huge God-led adventure that I could never have imagined, but that I am immensely grateful for.
Fast forward to January 2021, I started the year with great plans and by February, I started to feel very overwhelmed. I was very anxious about profiting from a venture I had only started about three months earlier. I was trying to balancing work and family life in between all of that. I felt that I wasn’t doing enough and that I needed to do more. I started to measure my “success” by my own very myopic metrics and I started edging towards comparing myself and feeling like I wasn’t “achieving”. It wasn’t a good time but I’m grateful for the experience because it forced me to stop and refocus.
Looking back at these two seasons, I can smile now as I can clearly see the difference. In 2020, I was totally dependent on God’s leading; while in 2021, I was trying so hard to lead myself. Look where that landed me – exhausted in minutes. LOL! What differed other than His leading, my pace.
Some few weeks ago, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Mike Todd’s words at the Global Leadership Summit 2020. In his session, he talked about “the pace of grace”. He described this pace as one of great result, yet of great rest. He defined the pace of grace as striding (i.e., walking with long decisive steps in a specified direction). I am convinced that the Holy Spirit brought these words to my heart because He was trying to remind me to walk in step with God’s timing, direction, pace, tempo, and rhythm. You see, God does not want us to burn out. It is not His desire that we lose our family, health, sanity, or joy in the pursuit of our assignments or vision. Absolutely not! His plan is that we prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers. His plan is all-round peace and prosperity.
God is a God of order, balance, and rhythm. Dictionary.com defines rhythm as the pattern of regular or irregular pulses caused in music by the occurrence of strong and weak melodic and harmonic beats. If you need proof, look at the order of creation. He created everything in a certain order – day and night, before land and seas, then vegetation, then living creatures, and so on. He was precise and harmonious.
In rhythm, there are irregular pulses, weak beats and even moments of silence; yet the combination of the notes and sounds make beautiful music. In your life, like a piece of music – there will be allegro (fast-paced, speed); grave (very slow), andante (at a walking pace) and vivacisimmo (very fast and lively) moments but each moment is relevant to produce the beautiful orchestra that God is writing. Please don’t despise any moment. Rather at every point – no matter how fast or slow, pay attention to Him. Never look away from Him, because He’s both the composer and the conductor – masterfully skilled at both.
Remember to walk in the pace of grace, otherwise, you’ll miss moments (of significance), meanings (of some insights) and miracles (divinely orchestrated events). The pace of grace is sustainable and livable. It helps you stay on assignment, allows you to grow and last, gives you margin, and gives health to your mind, body and spirit. The pace of grace gives you peace and prosperity.
Trust Him to teach you the unforced rhythms of grace. (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)
Love, C.I.
