There is something in each of our lives that we are missing out on in our rush to get things done. In our great hustle to get ahead, there is someone or something we are underappreciating. There are present joys we are trading for ephemeral joys we are still pursuing. As you strive towards your ambitions, which treasures of the present are you overlooking?
Each season of life is filled with longing. When you’re in school, you can’t wait to graduate. When you’re working, you can’t wait for your next vacation. When you’re dating, you can’t wait to get married. When you’re married, you can’t wait to grow your family. When you’re pregnant, you can’t wait for the due date. When you have an infant, you can’t wait until they crawl. When your child walks out the door, you can’t wait until they return. When you’re getting older, you can’t wait to retire. When you retire, you can’t wait for the next family gathering. And so the cycle goes until the longing turns into reminiscing.
We forget so quickly that there was a time in our lives when we dreamed of being where we are today. Each day has remnants of yesterday’s dreams. If only we could see those remnants more clearly and enjoy the present more dearly. We do ourselves such a disservice when we choose to dwell in the future. In Matthew 6:34, Jesus said, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Anxiety is our body’s response to our mind living in a different time zone. The truth is, yesterday offers us too little, tomorrow offers us too much; only today offers just enough.
We all get caught up in waiting for something yet to come and skip over what’s already there. But the Lord created each day to serve its own purpose in our lives. Jesus could have entered our world as a mature 30-year-old man, prepared to begin His ministry and perform miracles immediately, but He didn’t. He chose to be born as an infant, going through our entire human process. He grew gradually, day by day, like the rest of us. God has made each season with its own unique place in our lives, offering distinct lessons to learn, struggles to overcome, and joys to savor. In Ecclesiastes 2:24, the Teacher taught, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God.” There is enjoyment to be had in our toil in any season, but it must be found!
Each day is brimming with potential. Consider how many seemingly ordinary days in your life unfolded into pivotal moments. Today might unveil a song you’ll fall in love with. Today might harbor a conversation that will become a core memory for you or for someone who interacts with you. Today could mark the final time you cross paths with someone you know. Or today may simply reinforce your discipline as you go about doing your usual business. Today may not mean much to you, but God created it and sovereignly saw it fit to happen.
The Psalmist of Psalm 118 wrote, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Take time today to praise God for His gifts to you. Ask Him to open your eyes to the present joys around you, and enjoy what He sends your way.
Vita says: Thank you for the reminder. I thought about it and it dang on me that I don’t remember when was the last time that I watch the sun come up or watch it go down and just be happy about today… thank you for the heartfelt message.
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