This morning feels kind of gray and overcast before the day has fully begun (and the called-for storms arrive).
I was up early, but motivation didn’t get up with me. I’ve read a little and stared at my computer for inspiration, but my mind is on my “task” checklist for the day. None of the tasks are demanding, but most are fairly normal and straightforward. Review this. Finish that. Follow up on such and such. And, after the deluge and wind of last week, the weather forecast promises more to follow.
Days like this remind me that faith isn’t measured by enthusiasm (which is a good thing because while I love what I do, I am never described as “perky”). So much of the Christian journey is simply showing up, even when the energy is lacking. We pray when we don’t feel particularly prayerful. We serve when we would rather retreat. We trust when certainty is nowhere to be found.
The psalmist wrote, “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope” (Psalm 130:5). Waiting isn’t glamorous. It doesn’t seem productive. But when we “wait for the Lord,” something amazing happens. Our time of waiting is often when God works.
Storms may come today. Some storms appear in the sky. Others may be in our minds and hearts. Neither changes the presence of God. The One who was with the disciples in the storm remains with us in ours.
Perhaps today’s calling isn’t to accomplish great things or feel deeply inspired. Perhaps it’s simply to take the next faithful step, trusting that God is already present in the clouds, the rain, and even the lack of motivation. Thanks be to God.
Prayer: Lord, on this slow morning, help me to trust you without needing to feel inspired. Give me grace for the next step, courage for whatever storms may come, and confidence that your presence is steady even when my motivation isn’t. Amen.
