Hi, friend. I’m Gabbi, and I am a procrastinator.
Seriously. It’s bad. For instance, I am sitting here staring at a pile of laundry that has yet to be washed or put away in over two weeks… That’s right. TWO WEEKS. I couldn’t tell you the last time I vacuumed our rugs or mopped the floor (probably should actually own a mop first. Making a mental note to put a mop on my grocery clicklist).
But it’s not just the not-so-fun things I put off. I am always waiting until absolutely necessary to do what I need to do or even what I want to do. It’s weird, and I’m working on it. Maybe you can relate.
So when I was reading the other day, I was struck by a statement that Jesus made. On this particular day, Jesus had done a ton of stuff – taught people, healed people, was being followed around by people. He was a busy dude. After all of this, Jesus got up early in the morning and went somewhere to pray. During His “quiet time”, the disciples came and told Him that people were looking for Him. What was Jesus’ response? You can find it in Mark 1:38.
He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that’s what I came out here for.”
This really stood out to me. Jesus didn’t let busyness, tiredness, or an interrupted quiet time distract Him. He knew what assignment God had given Him here on this earth, and He wasn’t about to put it off.
Now, I don’t know about you, but this has really challenged me. So I want to ask you, and myself, two questions:
- What did you come out here for?
What’s your purpose? Yes, we all have the same overarching purpose – to love God, love people, and make disciples. But how we go about doing that is different for everyone. So what’s yours? Is it starting that small-group in your home, starting that business you’ve always wanted, writing that book, working from home, staying at home? If you’re unsure, PRAY!
You can also check out some of my blogs on purpose where I give you some tools to figure it out!
- Are you doing it?
Are you taking steps toward what it is God is asking you to do? Even if they’re small. Have you made that phone call, done that research, reached out to that person, written that first paragraph? Whatever it may look like for you, are you actually taking steps toward the purpose He has given you?
I am convinced that in my life, procrastination is often due to one of two things: busyness or fear disguised as busyness.
Chances are, if you’re breathing and have a family in any capacity, you’re busy. Now, busy can be good. Busy taking care of our families, busy in school, busy at our jobs, busy serving. All good things! But so many times, we let busyness become a distraction or an excuse. We forget about the dreams God put on our hearts because we are distracted with busyness, or we say we don’t have time for the assignments God has put on our hearts because we are busy.
There are other times that we use busyness as a shield. We’re afraid of what would happen if we began pursuing the dream God gave us — we’re terrified of what people will think or we’re simply scared of failing at the assignment altogether. So, instead of taking a step towards Jesus, we hide behind our “busyness”.
I want to encourage all of us to take a page from Jesus’ book.
Are you scared of failing?
Do it anyways, because that’s what you have come out here for.
Are you afraid of what people will think?
Do it anyways, because that’s what you have come out here for.
Are you unsure of yourself?
Do it anyways, because that’s what you have come out here for.
Is it easy? No, but the best things rarely are (take childbirth for instance… unless you have an epidural, which I did… twice). I want to challenge each of us to take the next few days and really think. When we’re doing laundry (which I should probably do) think about it. When we’re washing the dishes, think about it. When we’re in the shower, think about it. When we’re driving, think about it. What is God asking each of us to do? What is our assignment from Him in this season of life? What is your assignment from Him in this season of life? Let us identify it, write down steps we can take towards it, and, then, DO IT.
Because, friend, that’s what we have come out here for.