The One Truth About Each Moment You Don’t Want to Miss

I couldn’t sleep. Tears flowed as I reflected on the past years with my children. Now they were flying the coop.

Two off to college; the last two in high school. Vacations all different. Family dynamics skewed. No more lively debate every evening. No more weekly games for four. 

Adventures in Odyssey, Veggie Tales, Disney movies, imaginary play—all were seldom enjoyed now. 

I struggled with it. I didn’t really want to let go of how things were. Even at my weariest, I had still loved the long days of caring for those entrusted to me. 

I wanted to hold tight to what was. Fearful I would be missing much in this new reality of what is. 

Don’t Miss God

But when we don’t release the past, we miss out on the blessings of the now. As we fixate on the past, we miss the adventure of the next step. We live blind to the beauty of the moment. 

When we don't release the past, we miss out on the blessings of the now. Click To Tweet

The Israelites kept holding onto their past after their exodus from Egypt, refusing to see the blessing of the present. They missed God’s work in the now as they longed for what was and feared what was to come.

It didn’t go so well for them. They missed God in their midst and received His wrath for doing so. (Numbers 14; Jeremiah 44)

It’s good to remember the past, the good and the bad, because the lessons we learned guide and grow us. But when we paint it ideal and hold it too tightly, we stagnant as we fail to apply those lessons.

When we paint the past ideal and hold it too tightly, we stagnant as we fail to apply the lessons learned from it. Click To Tweet

In Each Moment

As a child of God, we never leave a time filled with goodness and enter one devoid of it. Because God is always with us, and He is good. His goodness never runs out for those who fear Him. 

The Lord was at work in our past, He’s at work in our present, and He’ll be at work in our future.

That makes for an abundance of goodness in the now. 

When we step into the moment with confidence and joy, we’re expressing our trust of the Lord’s sovereignty and goodness.

We are never walking into the void of the great unknown, but into the plans of the great I AM. 

We are never walking into the void of the great unknown, but always into the plans of the great I AM. Click To Tweet

I could continue to mourn what’s behind, and honestly I have. But better is to embrace the new now.

Because there’s Goodness in each moment I never want to miss.

“How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.” Psalm 31:19

Reflections: How do you train yourself to be aware of and embrace the moment, to live in the now?

I am thrilled to link up with Suzie Eller for #livefreeThursday and this week’s prompt, “Live in the now.” I love special linkups. They provide an abundance of great inspiration and encouragement all in one place. Click on the image below or links above to check them out.