(August 6, 2022) Mama Lava challenges our minds to hear God’s voice…

Have you ever been too busy to notice what was happening around you? Can you recall a time when you were so deep in thought you completely overlooked details that were right there? I sure have!

And it makes me wonder what breakthroughs our mind misses when we’re too busy?

Blinded by busyness, Example 1
Here’s an example from a recent experience (My apologies if this is TMI  ie too much information). I was seated on the porcelain throne at the time next to the bathtub. The shower curtain was closed and hung mere centimetres from my right shoulder.

I lingered there, physically. But my thoughts were elsewhere, occupied with mental lists, strategies and plans. When my business was done, I leaned over to flush. Because of the tight space, my face practically brushed the shower curtain.

My mind suddenly dropped all other thoughts and joined me in the moment! Something was not right! You know that feeling? My scream was choked into silence by my heart as it jumped into my throat to hide from the hockey puck-sized black spider just chillin’ on that white curtain.

Not the actual spider… (^{Photo by Paul Knut on Pexels.com}). I didn’t have enough wits about me to think of taking a photo!

Had it wanted to, it could have reached with one of its long legs and touched me as I sat there, I’m sure. My eyes frozen wide, I stared at it. How had I not known it was there?

There was certainly no missing it now!

I had been too busy ‘in my mind’s eye’ to see it, but now that I had, I couldn’t take my gaze off it. I am not a fan of spiders, especially big ones! I gathered my wits, and a wad of toilet paper… and all those legs! A second flush and my heartrate returned to normal.

Blinded by busyness, Example 2
Maybe you can relate to this, less creepy, example…

Have you ever had trouble with a word search puzzle? With so many letters creating busyness on the paper, sometimes a word can seem impossibly hidden. Then, once someone points it out, it almost appears to jump off the page.

As if this puzzle understood it was an object lesson, I had to ask my son to show me where ‘Memorable Impression’ was. I couldn’t see it until he showed me. Then it is obvious!

If too busy, the mind can miss breakthroughs
The other week I missed a breakthrough… well almost. My examples above helped me understand how it happened.

I won’t write all that was going on in my heart and mind – the busyness on my life’s page, if you will – so I’m leaving that to your experienced imagination. I’m just going to point out the pertinent, ‘connecting letters.’ Let me know when you see the spider coming. (Can I merge my two examples that way?)

• My husband, Michael, and I had been talking and praying about a way to serve the Lord at our new church. We’d been hesitant to dive into anything because our fall season is full of uncontrollable unknowns (medical procedures, travel, and such). Then the youth pastor asked us to take part in a Vision 2023 meeting.
• Now it so happened that we’d seen the following D. L. Moody quote on a blog – ‘If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God.’ And when we attended the this meeting, we immediately saw a need we could fill… youth ministry. We were assured our help would be welcome, even with the uncertainty of our schedule.
• A youth group meeting was arranged… but as we were coming home, we were still praying for God’s direction. (I’m sure you see the spider coming, we didn’t. We were too preoccupied!).
• Now sometime previously, I had walked the nearby trails, discovering God’s amazing wildflowers. It had led to writing the Something to See mini-series. And just before attending this youth group meeting, I had hurriedly written the rough draft of post #4. As I checked it, I wasn’t sure if it made sense and I almost erased it… but, not having time, decided to leave deletion until the next day.
• Next morning, I opened the blog to ‘fix’ it. But when I reread what I had written the previous night, I broke down and cried! One paragraph stood out so clearly… ‘And, just like a summer blossom, my time to display His wonder will fade away. It is imperative that I invest in others, especially those younger than me, while I may. I need to sow seeds of my own.’

My busyness was in the way!
Suddenly, the dots connected! The ‘letters’ fitted in order, and I saw the spider in front of me. We were supposed to get involved in youth ministry!

God had practically paved the way in neon. Looking back, I could see the signs. But until then, each was isolated. My busyness obscured the connection.

Now, it seems so obvious! God was answering my questions and I didn’t get it because I couldn’t focus. My mind missed the breakthrough because I’d been too busy.

Instead of scolding me, my heavenly Father directed my attention to His beautiful flowers. He showed me the seeds in various stages of their lifecycle. He stirred me to write what He had ministered to my heart. And then He used those words to inform me as He unveiled the breakthrough.

I published that draft (Spaces Surging with Stunning Splendor are Something to See #4) exactly as I had written it! Turns out, it resonated with some of you too. How great is our God!

Your busyness blocking God’s voice?
I’m not only referring to errands, commitments, and chores of life. It could be anything which drowns out the voice of God.

Music, screens, and people provide constant distraction. Worries, daydreams, and replays of conversations fill our heads. We can barely finish our own sentences, let alone listen while God completes His!

Are you too busy? What breakthrough might your mind be missing? In John 8:47, Jesus said, ‘Whoever is of God hears the words of God.’ And in John 10:27, ‘My sheep hear my voice … and they follow me.’

________________________________________________
Mama Lava believes in making the big world a bit smaller through connection. Believing that everybody deserves to be wrapped in maternal love when they need it, she regularly shares encouragements… telling life experiences from an unapologetically Christian viewpoint  the way she sees it, just as a mother does. Link: Mama Lava’s Back Porch (A Dose of Maternal Love).
__________________________________________________