Since my daughters were little, they have loved being in the kitchen with me. Whether it is a box mix or cookies from scratch, they want to be a part of it all. I treasure those moments, but they are not always the easiest way. It is slower. It requires patience. It means pausing to teach, to guide, to invite them in. It is often much easier to do it alone. Yet easier does not mean better. In those ordinary moments, I catch a glimpse of the heart of Jesus. He did not rush past His disciples in the name of efficiency. He walked with them. He lingered. He taught along the way. Every moment carried intention. Even in His planned times of rest, He revealed the rhythm of abiding with the Father. He chose presence. How often do we choose differently? With sincere and even beautiful intentions, we serve. We love our families, step into ministry, and care for those around us. Yet somewhere along the way, we can begin to move ahead of Him. We work for Him, but not always with Him. We busy our hands, while our hearts slowly drift from His presence. And every time I do this, I come up empty. Not because the work is wrong, but because I have stepped outside of the source. When I rely on my own strength, wisdom, and understanding, I feel the strain. Jesus gently reminds us why. A branch cannot produce fruit on its own. It must remain connected to the vine. Life flows from Him. Fruit is formed through abiding. Even our best efforts, when separated from Him, fall short of what He longs to do through us. But when we slow down and turn our attention back to Him, everything shifts. The Holy Spirit leads. He redirects. He breathes life into what we place in His hands. What once felt heavy becomes light because we are no longer carrying it alone. Like inviting my daughters into the kitchen, what feels less efficient often holds a deeper purpose beyond teaching. There is connection. There is joy. There is love being formed in the middle of the process. This is the invitation of Jesus. Not performance, but presence. Not striving, but abiding. Not doing for Him, but walking with Him. Remember, He created you as a human being, not a human doing. Take time to be with Jesus before you attempt to do things for Him. Before you step into your next act of service, pause. Listen. Ask Him what He desires and how He wants to meet you there.  Abide before you act.  Prayer: Jesus, thank You for inviting me into life with You. Forgive me for the times I have rushed ahead and relied on myself. Draw my heart back to Your presence. Teach me to abide, to listen, and to follow Your Spirit so that my life bears fruit that reflects You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You have been chosen by God himself – you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God’s very own – all this so that you may show to others how God called you our of the darkness into His wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 TLB

I sometimes forget to bring my shell bag to the beach and consequently end up filling my pockets with the unique, beautiful shells I can’t resist picking up. I see them and find it impossible to leave them in the sand, their intricacies unappreciated. Isn’t it amazing to know that God chose us? He sees us with an unlimited potential to make the world more beautiful. He brought us into His wonderful light to make our lives a shining example of His magnificent love. We belong to Him, we’re His beloved, and when He picked us up out of the mire and darkness, our names left an eternal imprint on the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16).

When we go through tough seasons in like it can feel like we’re the shells left in the sand. Unseen and walked past, our pain and heartache quietly ignored. In out hearts we know that’s a terrible lie the enemy launches against everything we know is true of our Father. God is close to the brokenhearted and He fells our pain as deeply as we do. And He will never ignore the names inscribed on His hands. Our lives are a journey into His waiting arms, an incredible gift to be enjoyed and grateful for every step of the way. Even when the difficult parts get long and we get anxious. He’s faithful to calm and comfort us.

The next time we feel unseen or it feels like our prayers aren’t getting through, let’s imagine God bending down to pick us up – because He will. He’ll send a friend to encourage us. He’ll put someone in our path to reveal His heart. Or He’ll meet our need in the most unexpected way. “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” ( Isaiah 46:4 NIV)

Remember that even in the challenges, we are the chosen and the carried.

Father,
Thank you for picking me up and carrying me through.