Something God has been teaching me a lot about lately is living in the present.

The present can be a hard place to live sometimes.

There are times when God reveals things to us about the future, but says not yet.
There are times we find ourselves discontent and frustrated with reality and want what is next.
There are moments of pain that we just want to skip over.
There are even days of the week we want to avoid, like Monday, and instead skip ahead to Friday.

The reality of the present can sometimes be extremely frustrating, and even painful.
So, as a result, sometimes we try to avoid it in order to get what is next.

But, life is full of seasons. And God has a reason for the reality of this.

When He reveals things to us about the future, but says not yet, there is a reason for it.
Sometimes we aren’t ready for what He has for us in the future, and we need to allow the time and space for Him to prepare us.

Sometimes being at home can be frustrating, because we want what is next. We want to move forward, to move on. However, God has a reason for keeping us in a season of stillness, because maybe He wants to work on our heart before He grows us in the more physical, outward ways.

Right now, I’m finding it hard to be on campus instead of feeling like I’m moving forward and pursuing more.
I love what God is doing, the opportunities I’m being presented with, and all of the ways God is working in my life. I know, without a doubt, that right now, I am meant to be exactly where I am.
However, there is a huge part of me that wants the freedom to be at home, and to go to the next thing.

I think there are always ways we can yearn for what is next and whats in the future, instead of living into the present.

But when we do this, we miss what God has for us in the present, what He wants to do in the here and now.

Sometimes we need what is in the present in order to succeed at what God has for us in the future.
Sometimes there are lessons God wants to teach us where we’re at right now.

When we’re constantly discontent with the present, and not paying attention to what is here and now, we’ll miss some of the most important and beautiful moments God want us to have.

Sometimes God calls us to season of stillness, and sometimes He just calls us to moments of stillness.
When it’s loud and chaotic, we can’t hear God very clearly.
So, He takes the seasons or moments of stillness to speak, to reveal, to give clarity, and to grow.

He knows what He is doing.
There is a reason for the process.

God has been speaking to me about fully embracing and living into the present, and even being an enthusiast about it.

The future He has for me is incredible, and I’m excited for it.
But what He has for me in the present is amazing too. It is enough, even now.
He wants to give me things here, and I don’t want to miss them.

So, I challenge you to not want what is next, but instead, live into the present, where God has you right now.
Don’t miss the things He wants to give you or speak to you right now.
And know He’s in the waiting.

Let’s not underestimate the beauty of the mundane.
Let’s not miss the weight that simplicity can hold.
Let’s live for today, not for tomorrow.