Let’s face it, there can be a lot going on in our life. Whether you are a student, a young adult, or a parent, you can always be wondering what is next. You notice yourself even wanting to rush every process and get to where you think you should be already. But life can come at you fast and before you realize what happened, months and years have gone by. You didn’t get a chance to enjoy the journey because you got so caught up in getting to the next stage. So how do you slow down and enjoy life right now?
Life In The Modern World
When I was younger, I wanted to be an adult as fast as I could. I thought becoming an adult means I will be able to make my own decisions. It means I won’t have to listen to anyone and will be able to spend my time how I want. Many of us have had a form of that naivety growing up where we thought the next stage of our life will be so much better.
You may be looking forward to the next milestone, like going to college, getting full-time employment, or when the kids can finally go to grade school. Or you could be working towards a goal you’ve always had. Maybe it’s being able to save for a downpayment on your dream home or starting your own business. Whatever it is, you want to rush the “now“. You want the next chapter, the next place, and the next something or other to happen so that you can finally be satisfied.
Then we get a moment to look back and kick ourselves for not enjoying the moments where life was simple. We just didn’t know how good it was because we were in too much of a hurry to get to where we are now. And the “now” may not be as enjoyable as the before. Meanwhile, we still look forward to the next thing instead of enjoying life now. So how can we break this cycle?
How To Slow Down And Enjoy Life Right Now
The truth is, rushing for the next chapter, whatever it is, is stealing our daily joy. It is distracting us from the daily grace that God continues to pour on us. God can place little signs and wonders all around us and we could be completely missing it.
Count Your Blessings
A place to start to slow down and enjoy life is to count our blessings. We are so incredibly blessed to have our faith and what stems from it. Think about all the people in your life that you feel blessed for. Think about the situations that God has come through for you. We need to be thankful for the love of our Lord that never ceases.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. - Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
When I think back on how faithful God has been in my life, I feel ashamed to think that I’m still rushing Him now. God knows what He’s doing in the season that I’m in now. So why would it be different in the next stage? Why are we in a rush? Knowing that He has our future secure in His capable hands can allow us to let go of the false promise that the next place or next stage is one that will be so much better. Because the truth is, it is always good when God is in. So we need to slow down and enjoy the blessings that He has given us right now.
Meditate On The Word Of God
The sense of longing for what is next is actually one big distraction that can undermine our faith. When we get antsy about our current situation or allow ourselves to be anxious, are we keeping our faith in check? Or when you allow yourself to always be on the go, even rushing your time with the Lord, can you soak in the word of God, that is supposed to be our guiding light? The Psalmist says,
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. - Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
But is it just words that we read and hear? For us to slow down and enjoy life, we need to meditate on the Word of God, which is a lamp that lights up our path. The Psalmist also compares those that not only delight in the law but meditates on it day and night to trees that are planted along the riverbank.
But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. - Psalms 1: 2-3 (NLT)
Trees that are along a riverbank do not wither. And most important of all, they bear fruit each season. So no matter what season it is that we may be in, let it be one that is fruitful. For us to be fruitful, we need to slow down and meditate. We need to allow ourselves to enjoy where God has us at this moment in time. In the meantime, we can wait on the Lord because he is our help and our shield.
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. - Psalm 33: 20 (NIV)
Be A Blessing In This Season
Speaking of being fruitful in each season, one of the ways that we can be fruitful is by being a blessing. When I look back on all the chapters in my life where I rushed time, I thought about how God used me. Even though my focus was on the next place, the next accomplishment, the next step to take, I distinctly remember the small ways that God used me to be a blessing to others. But at the time, I didn’t think anything of it nor did I slow down enough to ever appreciate it.
Where you are right now, God can use you to be a blessing to others. Whether that is for your own family, your own children, or your place of work. Your experience of being single now while waiting for a spouse means you can take the time to volunteer and pour to others. You running around as a busy parent juggling a career and parenthood means you can be the best parent that only you can be for your children. All at the same time, you can be a blessing to those at work who need the light of Jesus in a body.
Knowing that where you are and what you are doing is purposeful and you are a blessing. So slow down and enjoy the life that God has given you. The next chapter will come in time. Don’t allow yourself to live in regret of not enjoying the past. Wait on the Lord. And in the meantime, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. - Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
Let Us Pray
Heavenly Father, thank you that you are good. Even when I don’t slow down enough to see it and even when I rush you for the next thing. I forget how incredibly blessed I am because of your mercies that are new every morning. Help me to slow down and enjoy the life that you have blessed me with. Teach me to be able to meditate on your words, which is a guiding lamp for my path. And give me the thoughtfulness to be a blessing to others that you have placed in my life right now. I bless Your goodness. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen
Recommendation
Knowing God starts with knowing His Word. If you don’t already own a Bible, there are many churches that give one for free. You can also download a YouVersion Bible App. Or if you’d like a physical copy, it can easily be found on amazon.