Something I’ve noticed is the longer the world spins, the more we feel as though we are falling behind.

News is happening. Wars are being fought. People are starving. Stocks are rising and falling. People are

dying and being born. Things are changing and we feel that because we aren’t changing at the same

rate, something must be wrong. There is a pressure that’s applied to the driven among us that says, “I

need to pick up my pace! My goal is to get ahead and stay ahead!” And there is a pressure that’s applied

to quieter members of society, the less-driven, that says, “I’m perpetually behind. There is no way I’ll

ever catch up. I might as well stop.” I say neither of these thoughts are helpful or productive. If you find

yourself overwhelmed, trust me when I say, “We aren’t in a race. You’re doing just fine.” And if you

constantly find yourself racing to get ahead, I’d ask you a simple question, “Who are you racing?” Is

there a race to keep up with your neighbors? If they get a new car, do you feel like you need one, too? Is

there a contest between you and the other businesses in town that says if you don’t post ahead each

quarter, somehow you’re failing? I believe there is a better way.

The way of faithfulness isn’t characterized by a life of running and constantly feeling like you’re being

left behind. Nor is it shaped by a steady feeling of discouragement. There is an evenness, a steadiness to

faithfulness that keeps us moving forward, but not in a perpetual sprint.

I understand God made each of us with our own set of characteristics and bends. Some of us move

faster. Others are comfortable with a snail’s pace. Some of us talk a lot and others are quieter. Some of

us are energized by being around people, while others require alone time to recharge. None of these

qualities are wrong or bad. But this old, broken world likes to put a magnifying glass on each of them.

Under scrutiny, we feel like our traits are not as good as the people around us and so we put pressure

on ourselves to change. We work at being something we were not created to be.

This is the root of sin that goes all the way back to the Garden. Adam and Eve were perfect. They lacked

nothing. And yet, when they were given the opportunity, they looked around and said, “We aren’t

enough. We want to be like God.” The cycle of brokenness began and we’ve been chasing our tails ever

since. However, all is not lost! God offers a solution to our frazzled state. We look to Him and long for

joy and peace and quiet. Faithfulness is an even pace that provides all of that and more.

Faith is a gift from God. Once we accept, we gain the ability to see what He is doing around us and

respond to Him with the same tenacity and consistency with which He deals with us. It is supernatural,

to say the least! Those who adopt a faith-filled lifestyle, learn early on the roller coasters of competition

and hurry are slowing to a crawl. No longer do we stay awake at night thinking about all the ways we are

behind. No more are we consumed with keeping up with the world around us. Faith gives us a single-

minded perspective: that of our Maker’s. Our greatest desire becomes living life His way and the cares

of every other way just kinda pass by the wayside.

Why does this matter? Those who run the rat race are most likely going to continue. Rarely will they

stop to consider God’s desires for their life. And those who are overwhelmed are often chronically so.

They’ve been in that state so long, it feels like their feet are stuck in quicksand. So, why bring this up?

Because I know many who have never heard it before. If you are stuck in the roller coaster of keeping up

and think there’s no way out; if you’ve been told “this is just the way it is,” then listen up. The way of the

Master is slower and so much better. No longer do you have to be the exhausted mom who feels like

every other mother is ahead of you. No more do you have to be the frazzled dad, burning the candle at

both ends, trying to make ends meet. For those who know Jesus, His is the only perspective that

matters. And He’s not concerned with the year model of your car, the name brand on your clothes, the

floor that’s inside your house or how many times you ate out this month. His concern is whether or not

you can see Him and what He’s up to. His concern is whether or not you embrace faith as a gift or reject

it as something you don’t have time for.

Getting ahead is a myth and falling behind is a lie. You may have spun a web so thick you think you can

never get out. I promise you, Jesus has the ability to cut through the mess you find yourself caught up in

and put your feet on solid ground, if you will let Him. Will you let Him?