Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself…

10 May Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself…

If you don’t mind this week I’d like to be a little transparent. I’ve been struggling with MY NEED TO THRIVE. Or, shall I say my day to day priorities vs. my overall success.  Actually, I don’t really know how to describe what I’m dealing with. So, let me tell you about it, by first introducing myself.

Hi, I’m Marlela. I am a driven person and a serial life juggler!

My friends would probably describe me as a person who is always doing the absolute most. In fact, I’ve been known to take on a lot, since I was a little girl. But, now I’ve added a few additional roles and I’m struggling to keep them all up.

Anyhow, I was looking at ‘allllllllll the things’ that I do (must do and want to do)…and I realized that no one was getting 100%, no one. Not my job, not my God, not Judah, not my kid, friends, husband or even myself. Everyone and everything is just getting pieces of me and it makes me sad.

In a conversation with a dear friend, I said: “One of these has to go!”. “I am going to quit (insert thing on my full plate).” She replied, “you’ve been saying that for two years, now!” Lol! I don’t think she believed me when I said it then or would believe me if I said it today.

This got me thinking about why I struggle with the decision to quit something that is on my plate.

Because, at my core, I want my story to be a good one.

Because, I know I was made for more.

Because, I want my child to be truly proud, when he says, “that’s my Mama!”

Because, I struggle with the fact that I’m 37 and I haven’t accomplished A, B, C, D, or E (insert promotions, salaries, house dreams, businesses, visions, dreams, travel… the list is endless).

I want to impact and help the world. I want to create generational wealth for my child and his children and all the generations that come behind me.

I struggle with creating this larger than life impact when I see myself passing on assignments or opportunities to rub elbows with people.  Saying no to large or small positions of influence does not get me there.

But you know what? I’m tired. Can I say that to you without judgment? Can I say that I’m tired?

So, that’s why I’m struggling.  Tell me, do you struggle with this too? Do you ever ask yourself, do I go after the promotion, sign up to serve or do I step back from that and spend more time taking care of my body and my household? Do you think that it’s fair that we have to choose? This week is it family? Or is it goals? Or is it responsibilities over self-care?

What do you choose? Do you choose you?  Do you choose your family? Do you choose your successes?

But the more I think, the more I believe maybe I don’t have to choose. Maybe I can be all the things I want to be and do all the things I want to do, but just not at the same time. Not on the same day. My success in life is not determined by how well I thrive but by how well I lean into His calling, trust Him and accept his grace throughout my journey.

So, if you struggle with this as I do, I’d like to share five truths that I am standing on (and you can too!):

1.       What He has placed in you, is still and will be in you.  

“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].” -Philippians 1:6 (AMP)

What God has given you is urgent, necessary and we still need it. We may not need it right this moment, but it is still in your path although it may not be there TODAY.

2.       He understands the season you’re in and he knows that sometimes you’re tired, but he still wants you to seek Him for a strategy to fight the battles and win the war.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time for war and a time for peace.” – Ephesians 3:1, 8b (NIV)

I know you’re tired and I know everyone needs you. But we must seek God in our draining seasons. We must lean on Him for strength.  Even if the strength He is giving us is permission to rest.  He is with us, He knows what we’re going through and is there to support us through it all.

3.       If you need to rest, REST!

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” – Genesis 2:2 (NIV)

Take the nap, go on the vacation, sit in your car before going into your house for 10 minutes. You need this to be truly effective and to decompress!

4.       Remember that your current reality is not your truth.

“From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.” – Proverbs 12:14 (NIV)

Use affirmations. Speak life over your vision. You are stronger than you know and closer than you think.

5.       Life will not be perfect, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the ride!

“…that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” – Matthew 5:45 (KJV)

Life can be hard, it just can be. But, life is still good. Eat the donut (sometimes), take a walk in the sun and laugh until your belly hurts. He wants us to experience all these things.