“Don’t trade your peace for progress.” When I first read this quote last week I brushed over it, didn’t think much of it. Nonetheless it wouldn’t leave my thoughts. I started meditating on it and as I thought more and more I realized it’s a deep sentence.
We live in a generation where more and more young adults become entrepreneurs, as they should, nothing wrong with it. We live in a generation where we learn more in one week about life and hacks through TikTok than four years in college. Am I right or no? We live in a generation where because of social media we see other people’s high light reels and progress more and more.
While all of that has its pros and cons. I think it also puts pressure on us. It makes us feel like what we have going on isn’t enough. We should be more ahead in life, we should have this or that milestone checked off, we should be in the house, in the car, have that family, have that job, be married.
We see other people’s progress in life while we may feel stagnant and stuck. Or we may feel like God blesses them but forgets about us. We let contempt enter our life. When that happens, we can get resentful towards God and others who on the outside “have it better.” When this happens we are vulnerable to open a door for the enemy and let him come in which might get us to stop enjoying the life that God has for us and believe lies. We stop living in the moment and being grateful for what God is doing now. We overlook the good because we are so focused on what’s missing or where we are or not at in our lives. We stop trusting God’s plan for us.
This is a scary place to be because we then take God off the throne of our lives and put other people or our own self there. We make decisions out of our flesh. We begin to feel fear because we don’t know what decision is the right one or what will get us that “progress” we crave.
Everyday we have to remind ourselves that our peace is much more valuable than the anxiety and pressure that comes with needing to see outward progress. Now, I’m not saying don’t work hard or be lazy. Because the Bible also says, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 NLT But what I want you to ask is who are you trusting more in, yourself or God.
God doesn’t run out. He doesn’t have a few blessings left and He might not get to you. So don’t be worried that your neighbor has XYZ and you wonder where’s yours. He has plenty for His children. Trust His timing. Trust breeds peace. Peace knowing He’s got you, He’s thinking about you and when the time is right your time will come according to His purpose. Instead of asking God where’s mine? Ask Him what are you trying to teach me, what do you see in my heart I need to let go of, what can I take away from this season of waiting? God is more interested in our heart’s state than our progress with milestones or tangible things. “But the Lord said to Samuel, “…The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”” 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT
How’s your heart today?
If you’re looking for a good first step to do this go back to His word. Here’s a good devotional that reminds me to keep my trust in God everyday. Joyce Meyer’s devotional book, “Trusting God Day by Day: 365 Daily Devotions”
If you’d like to get a little deeper read Joyce’s book “Unshakeable Trust”
Both books have blessed me and hope they bless you.
Amen!