Be Steady In The Lord
Would you agree that the world we live in right now is fast-paced? Everyone seems to be rushing to go somewhere or to get something. Sometimes when people can’t get something or reach a particular level by a specific timeline; they quickly view themselves as failures, not good enough or not doing enough. So, they attempt to work even harder and force their way through to achievement. It is as if society is conditioned to move 100 miles per hour, and anything less than this is deemed not acceptable. Unfortunately, many of us have unknowingly allowed this fast-paced environment to influence and impact how we operate when pursuing our God-given purpose. Thus, we have forgotten what it truly means to be steady in the Lord.
I always mention to my clients and audience that purpose does not require you to always be stressed. I remember receiving that word from one of my mentors a while ago, and I have carried it on ever since. But it was not until recently that God showed me exactly what that statement meant in biblical terms and how very true it was.
Jesus is the ultimate example of what it means to pursue purpose while remaining steady in the Lord. While reflecting on the scriptures outlining Jesus’s time on earth, it dawned on me that Jesus walked everywhere as his mode of transport. Now you could argue that they did not have the various methods of transportation available that we have today, but that is beside the point. When you look deeper, there is a certain type of behaviour that Jesus exhibited that God equally wants us to emulate. Jesus was never in a rush in his assignment. Even in situations where there is an urgent need for a miracle, he was always steady and calm. Not because he was unwilling to perform those miracles but because the God who sent him to perform them will ensure that they are performed. He did not try to force his way or rush things through. Instead, he walked and worked with confidence knowing and trusting in his calling. He understood his call was something greater than Him that only God could control; he depended on his Father.
Do you find yourself constantly feeling like you have to force your way into fulfilling your purpose?
To give this a bit of biblical context, let us look at one of the most well-known miracles that Jesus performed during his time on earth; when he walked on water. Matthew 14:22-33 tells this story. When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the lake, they were initially terrified, but Jesus identified himself, telling them not to be afraid (Matthew 12:27, NIV). Peter then asked for Jesus to call him out of the boat so he too could experience walking on water (Matthew 12:28, NIV). This story could symbolise how we step out into our God-given purpose through a call from God. Walking in our divine purpose could be likened to walking on water because, just like the idea of walking on water, our purpose is often unheard of, something people may not understand, something people may doubt. But, like Peter, as long as we fix our eyes on Jesus, we can be steady, we can do it. But in verse 30, Peter started to fear, and as a result, he could no longer be steady and consequently started to sink. This is an example of what can happen as we walk on our purpose journey; we can forget the person who called us in the first place. We then rely on our abilities and try to force our way, mainly out of fear of not moving fast enough. But what that only does is cause us to produce “worried work”, stress ourselves and spiritually and physically drown.
Another well-known example of how we know that Jesus was never in a rush was when he delayed his travel to Lazarus’s house two more days after Lazarus’s sisters informed him that Lazarus was severely sick (John 11:6-7, NIV). While we can glean from this passage that sometimes, even amid trouble, God may not immediately jump in when we want Him to, a question comes to my mind. Could it be that Jesus did not rush to save Lazarus because he knew his purpose in the life of Lazarus would be fulfilled? There was no need to rush, panic or force his way because everything is eventually part of God’s master plan, and he had confidence that God who sent Him will have everything happen at the right and appointed time.
Ecclesiastes 2:23-24, NIV
What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days, their work is grief and pain; even at night, their minds do not rest. This, too, is meaningless.
Is your mind currently at rest regarding your purpose, or is it full of anxious striving? This type of worry, panic and trying to rush and force your way through life is not the way to go. If you no longer enjoy what you are producing in the form of work because you are constantly trying to run 100 miles per hour, or you find yourself worrying and anxious about when the next client will come or when the next opportunity will arise, then I urge you to question whether you are in a posture of steadiness in the Lord. Steadiness does not mean you do not do your part or position yourself in the right places; it simply means that you do not constantly worry or become stressed over the things that God is already making available in relation to your God-given purpose. It means that you remember you are in partnership with God and not on your own.
Being steady in the Lord means you understand that you are not on your own but in partnership with God
We need to stop carrying the weight of things that only God can carry; that is not our job. Our job is not to figure out how things will be done and how things will work together. Our job is to obey, trust and believe in God that it will be done. Not once did we ever see Jesus try to think about how he would perform a miracle or fulfil his destiny. It was already written; his path was ordained by God just as ours is too.
How many times have you thought to yourself, “I must hurry to get this”, or “I must constantly try to seek out opportunities to keep myself afloat”. Don’t you think that God who created you for the purpose will also create opportunities for you? So, let’s stop the chase because even while running, the opportunities that God wants to bring may not catch up with us because we are constantly running after something. Sometimes, we need to be steady to receive God’s provision. God may just be waiting on you to be still in this season so you can receive his gifts with grace. So, remember to remain steady in the Lord whenever you are worried about your next opportunity or how things will work out. Be diligent, and God will favour you.
