Lately, my relationship with God seems to be going on a downward spiral. The more time I spend apart from Him, the more guilt fills my spirit when I try to make tiny efforts towards Him. This guilt comes from a lack of acceptance. I find myself continuously comparing what my relationship with God should be versus how it is currently. This mindset always fills me with frustration and hinders the steady growth that should take place in a relationship with Him.
Since Jesus is always in the habit of meeting people where they are in life, I decided to apply His example to my own spiritual life. Instead of discouraging myself by focusing on where I should be spiritually, I decided to accept where I am. I may not be able to spend one hour with God anymore, but even 15 minutes can make all the difference. Every day God has been using this experience to teach me how to be patient with myself. He’s been teaching me that it’s okay to take small steps in life; not everything has to be a giant leap. Regardless, every tiny act leads to something greater.
One morning, I decided to do a short devotional by reading a verse from the Bible. I came across Zechariah 4:10 which says that God does not despise my small beginnings; He’s just excited to see the work begin.
It’s been a never-ending struggle of mine to maintain a consistent relationship with God. I always seem to let the business of life consume me, rather than surrendering my busy life to Him. But, He’s been teaching me that every little act is important. Whether it’s spending five minutes a day in devotion, saying tiny prayers throughout the day, or reading one bible verse before I begin my day, it means something to Him. Spending little time with God is better than spending no time with Him at all.
I am still learning to treat my relationship with God just like any relationship I have in my life. All relationships require time, energy, and presence—and a relationship with God is no different. A deep relationship with Him can’t and won’t happen overnight, but rather over time.
Image credit: James Coleman