I can get so caught up in “doing the right thing” that I forget what’s truly important. It’s my deepest desire to do what God wants me to do, but in that, I also get myself caught in the trap of overthinking.

“Am I doing what God wants me to do? Am I doing it right? Am I doing enough of it?”

Can you relate to any of that? If so, stay with me. The Lord may just have something for you in this story.

So what is truly important here? What do we miss by overthinking and questioning every little decision?

I definitely miss out on PEACE. And joy. And gratitude. And being fully present in the season and moment I am in. I need to put this on a giant plaque so that I read it daily--- “GOD DOESN’T WANT YOUR PERFECTION- HE WANTS YOUR OBEDIENCE.” He wants your heart. Quit trying to have it all figured out and quit trying to perform perfectly. He doesn’t expect that and He certainly doesn’t NEED that. Slow down, abide daily, listen for His voice and obey it. He invites us to join Him, not because He needs us, but because He wants us!

The last several months or so I’ve been in a bit of a funk feeling like I am not doing enough, not doing good enough and honestly, simply allowing the enemy to beat me down mentally.

One afternoon recently I was standing in my kitchen, facing the living room where all my kids were playing, which- side note- is not the direction I usually stand when I'm making food. However, in this instance that's how I set up to make a sandwich for one of my kids. As I am fixing it, the Lord gently said, “This is important.” It was so subtle, I could have missed it, but it caught my attention and I stopped and I looked up at the chaos and the mess and my children joyfully playing together. Every detail of this moment was important and the Lord wanted to show me that.

Culture tells us that being a mother isn’t enough, we need to do more. Culture tell us that being a wife is oppressive, we need to get out into the world and hold our own!

Growing up, my dream was to be a stay at home wife and mom. I knew more than anything that’s what I wanted and I know that seed and desire was planted by God. Along the way, I started believing the lies that that’s not enough and I should be doing more.

Raising Jesus loving, kingdom minded children IS MY MINISTRY! Taking care of my home and being my husbands help-mate IS MY MINISTRY! And it’s not only a joy, but it’s a GIFT. How dare I allow Satan to rob me of the JOY the Lord has given me through my role as a wife and mom.

This is where God has me right now and by focusing on all that I’m NOT doing, or even things I’d like to be doing, I’m missing out on the gifts He has placed right in front of me.

“This is important.”

Where God has you right now, is important. He can use your obedience wherever you are, and that is ENOUGH. Your obedience is enough!

“If you obey My commands you will abide in my love, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commands and abide in His love.” John 15:10

We demonstrate our love for God by obeying what He says. Trusting that He knows what’s best in all seasons and all circumstances. He is faithful and His word never returns void.

Lord, forgive me for every time I try to step out in front of you and don’t trust that you will do what you say. When I don’t appreciate where I am and all You’ve given me right here! I am no better than the complaining Israelites who saw Your mighty works one day and then forgot the next.

I’ll leave you with this note from my personal experience: Whatever God asks you to do, He will equip you to do! There is not a single thing you have to do on your own or in your own strength. When we let our Shepard do what He does, when we let Him LEAD and guide our steps, only then do we experience true fulfilment and JOY no matter what He's asking us to do because as my friend Tara-Leigh Cobble says “He’s where the JOY is!”.

“I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” John 15:11

Amen and amen!

God bless you, my friend. Jesus love you.

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