The recently widowed woman said to her wise friend, "Belafonte was a good man. He worked his fanny off six and seven days a week. Sometimes, in addition to his business, he had to work one or two other jobs just to provide for us. I wonder if he got into heaven. I hope he did."
"I see," said her wise friend. "Did he go to church with you?"
"No, you don’t understand," said the widow. "Sunday mornings were when he caught up on his sleep…if he wasn’t working."
"Oh," said her wise friend, "He could have taken more time to be with God. But, I’m sure God is taking good care of him now."
"Hmmph…God," said the widow. "When was God was ever there for him?"
This brief story may spark the question for you: How on earth am I ever supposed to find time for God? My life is jam packed. I barely have time to breathe. So, I’m supposed to take time to study scripture, maybe read a devotional, and pray? Really? I move way too fast for all of that. Isn’t that what church is for?
Consider this fragment of the 23rd Psalm once more: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” You may have never thought of the very familiar verse this way, but you don’t have to go to extraordinary lengths to be with God. You don’t have to set aside time you don’t have. All you have to do is pay attention to the fact that God is right here with you.
ALL. THE. TIME.
HERE.
WITH YOU.
Let that sink in for a moment. All you have to do is think or talk. God is listening to every single word, monitoring every single thought during your extremely committed and busy life. When life seems overwhelming, pause momentarily and remember this fact: God is spending time with you every single moment of your life. Every moment. Now, stop and ask yourself again that question about how you’re supposed to carve out time for God. When God feels so far away, when you find yourself wondering how to find more time to spend with God, remember to let yourself relax into God’s constant presence in your life. God’s got this.