Never Underestimate the Power of a Moment.

Time. It keeps moving, even when we’d rather slow it down. Life goes by so fast that if you blink, you miss ten years. What can we do? About the pace of time? Nothing. About how we use the time God has given us? That is something we can change. 

Like everything else in life, we should be good stewards of our time. We should use our time wisely. But how do we do that? We all want to make our mark in the world, to do something worth wild. Some want to make a name for themselves, others want to be a light for God above all else. As Christians, this should be our goal—to be a light for God. 

God has a purpose for each of us. He designed us with this purpose in mind. But what does following our call and working for God look like? Does it look like always being busy, always doing more? Yes, and no. 

We should be busy for God. Look at Christ. During his time on earth, Jesus was always busy. The gospels are full of stories of Jesus teaching and healing. But he did something else, too. He lived. 

He wasn’t constantly working. The Bible says, “The news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:15-16, NIV)

Jesus was a busy person. Crowds followed him all the time. He was always teaching and healing, but he took the time to pray. To rest. 

The Bible doesn’t mention this, but I believe Jesus also took the time to be human. I believe he had regular conversations, not just speaking in sermons. I believe he laughed. If Jesus were only a serious teacher, he would only have disciples and followers, not friends. But the Bible mentions his friends (Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and I’m sure the twelve disciples were his friends too). Jesus was likable. He was always doing God’s work, but he was also a person. 

We should follow his example. We should always be doing God’s work, but we should also take time to rest and live. Let’s look at Jesus again. Think about what we just said, that Jesus took the time to be a friend and a person. He was kind, compassionate, gentle, loving, and so many good things that made him a perfect friend (and all those things hold true today; he’s still the perfect friend). 

Now, think about someone who constantly knocks themselves out working. They are tired, grumpy, stressed, and snappy. How do I know? I was that person and still am at times. I struggle with workaholism, and I’ve lost a lot because of it. Spending time with my family, enjoying nature, sports, music. I haven’t practiced archery or throwing knives or guitar in so long. Because of always being busy with my writing. I realize it’s time to step back, and I’m praying and trying to get my life back in order. 

Here’s what I’ve learned. When we obsess over our work, or even our ministry, we lose sight of the reason for our ministry and life: God. We take our eyes off God and put them on our work, and that’s where the trouble begins. Work, while it can be fulfilling and enjoyable, will ultimately leave us empty at the end of the day. We need God to give us peace and joy. Constant work gives us stress and anxiety. 

Another lesson I’ve learned is that when we are constantly working, we don’t enjoy the blessings God so graciously gives us. It’s like we’re rejecting them. We’re ungrateful for them and ignore them. That isn’t being a good steward. 

So what should we do? We should, like in all things, follow Jesus’ example. We need to slow down and live. 

Jesus knew what being a present, unhurried friend would do. When a person is calm and kind and joyful, they tend to attract people. People want to know what you have that they don’t. And everyone wants to be around a nice person. People are more likely to listen to a gentle, loving person than a hurried stress-bucket. We can reach more people for Christ when we are living according to the patterns God wants for us. We have to live life by God’s tempo. 

This may look different for everyone. Each person’s calling and life are as unique as they are. But there are some basics that apply to us all. One of them is presence.

We need to be present. We need to exist in this moment, because this moment is the only one we have. And moments, while tiny, can be extraordinarily important. 

Little moments make up our lives. Think about the best or most important memories in your life. Most things happen in the matter of a few minutes. Even if we experience things for years, each individual experience is a moment. Often, the most important things are just that—moments. 

Think about when you got saved. Few people pray for hours on end. 

What about the best memories from your childhood? I remember cooking with my mom and playing with my brother. Small things, but they have stayed with me. 

That’s what moments do. They become memories. Sometimes, moments can affect us for the rest of our lives. 

Like bullying and abuse. It only takes a second for someone to insult you, but the memory may hurt many years later. 

Good moments work the same. It will take less than a minute to compliment someone, but they may remember it for years. 

We never know where a moment may go. Life is like dominos, and everything we do creates a reaction that keeps going. 

To you, telling the cashier that you like her hair may be a trivial thing. But it may be the only kind word she hears today. 

It may seem like a small thing to read a book to a kid, but it may ignite a spark for literature that will lead that child to write someday. 

Giving a friend a hug or listening to them over coffee may seem like nothing to you. But to them, it may be the only love they feel that day and make them realize they’re not alone. 

Taking a five-minute walk in the quiet might seem insignificant, but it gives us time to hear from God. 

We never know how what we do might affect something or someone, or ourselves, down the road. It can even save a life. For a real life example, someone posted a video online, not expecting that it would keep a girl from committing suicide. But it did. 

We don’t know. That’s why we should never underestimate the power of a moment. Yes, God works through big things. Through miracles, and missionaries, and sermons, and books. But he also works in big ways through small things. Through a kind word, a smile, a hug, and just giving someone a moment to show that you care. 

Sometimes, God leads us to do simple things that will have a huge impact later, sometimes even in our own lives. Like when I wrote a poem and didn’t know what to do with it. Years later, that poem is now the first to appear in Prophecy Awakens and perfectly describes Ava’s thoughts about the gifted ones. The poem came long before the idea for the Rise of the Warriors series was born, but it fit seamlessly. God’s plan all along, I’m sure. But if I hadn’t obeyed and taken the moment to write the poem, what would have happened? Would the book be the same?

We never know where God will take a moment. That’s why we need to make each one count. Being a good steward of the time God has given us doesn’t just include being diligent in our work or ministries. It also means being present in the present. It means using the little moments for his glory by living our lives the way God wants us to. By caring for others, listening, being kind, and most importantly, taking time to be with God. 

We can lose a lot when we lose a moment. Slow down. Let God lead the dance that is life. His rhythm is so much better than ours. Follow Jesus’ example, and be serious about your calling, but also be alive. Make the most of the moments. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)