While struggling and slogging through the immense hills and valleys of 2024, I found that my prayers—especially when I covered my writing career—tended to be more psalmist in nature. I vowed that I would do whatever God asked of me, tell whatever stories He wanted me to tell, as long as I knew I was moving in His will…not just mine.
Time and time again, God laid on my heart exactly what I was supposed to be doing and what stories needed to be written (I know this because, as is always the case, His instruction and guidance proved faithful over time). But there were also many instances when God allowed my weary heart to wander rather than chastening me immediately. He allowed me to chase my own whimsy and desires toward old, shelved, or already-finished writing projects in a way that eventually revealed a pitfall in my life.
Man, am I easily distracted from doing the work of the Lord.
In many respects, I’m not so different from my kiddo in the toy aisle. I go in with my heart set on one thing, certain of its importance, only to be sidetracked by something different, something shiny.
I bet this holds true for many of us—maybe even for you! Committing to the work of the Lord versus carrying it out are two very different things. Especially when distractions call to us. I realized I blew with the winds of readerly feedback. Whenever I received praise or positive reinforcement on one of my books, that’s where I would aim my sails, whether it was the direction God had assigned me to go or not.
And so it goes. Distractions seek to pull us from the path—one of our greatest challenges in a fast-paced world that toils under the fist of the enemy. Distractions can be important and negative (like a medical or family crisis) or good things that tempt us to chase our own understanding rather than God’s (like positive feedback or something that encourages us to “follow our heart”). Some distractions are simply neutral…a quiet tug that may sound like, “Did God really say…?”
This week, we encourage you to invest in faithfulness, discipline, and discernment so you can follow God’s leading in your life. It takes all three to know the course and stay the course. Spiritually speaking, these three don’t just happen by chance; we have to practice being faithful to the leading of the Lord, being disciplined in not straying from what He has assigned us to do, and being discerning of when He is calling us to adjust course versus when we’re being tempted to turn this way or that by the winds of life.
This week is also a great time to recommit yourself to serve your Savior in what he has called you to do. Approach the heavenly throne with prayer and praise, and ask the Lord to reveal the distractions that arise—unknown or otherwise—so you can be your best, most focused, more dedicated self in carrying out His will.
Distractions can spring up out of nowhere—whether we’re prepared or unprepared, whether we recognize them or not. But as we remain faithful to God and ask for wisdom, He is faithful to help us stay the course and accomplish all the work He has in store for us to do!
