Digging Deeper – Sitting with Myself
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us…16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.
Philippians 3:12-14, 16 (NLT)
SITTING WITH MYSELF
I turn on the radio in the car. I search for the latest podcast episode. I flip on the TV as soon as I walk into the living room or bedroom. I scroll on my phone intermittently throughout the day between tasks—or perhaps I complete tasks intermittently between scrolls. Sound familiar?
Life is noisy. It has become increasingly difficult to find spaces and places where we can step away from distractions and into an oasis of solitude. But – at least for me – this is primarily because I’ve chosen this path.
I don’t often choose silence, even when a fleeting moment is available to me. Because of this proclivity to opt for noise and distraction, I have no doubt that the Lord has introduced seasons of difficulty to lead me to carve out more time with Him. After all, He desires nothing more.
Another reason I might not choose to cancel the noise is that I’m afraid I might not like what the Holy Spirit has to say to me. It isn’t because I’m living in sin; it may simply be that I don’t want to disrupt the status quo. What if He asks me to make a life change—or to do something out of the norm—that means I no longer “have control”?
There are also times in life when I’ve experienced failure and pain—sometimes self-imposed, sometimes the consequences of others’ poor choices. In either case, the Lord’s aim is to be close to me, to comfort me, and to mold me into His likeness. Does this happen naturally? Not a chance.
You may have heard the phrase, “Failure is life’s greatest teacher.” This is, quite simply, incorrect. A more accurate statement would be, “Focused reflection on failure is one of life’s greatest teachers.” If I don’t sit with myself, I don’t grow. I don’t learn. Instead, I’m bound to repeat history—no matter how messy or painful my life may become as a result.
Focused reflection is another term for evaluation. It requires time, discipline, and a desire to truly become all that God has created you to be.
The next time you have a moment—in the car, in the bathroom, in your office, or in the coffee shop, consider leaving your phone in your pocket and tuning out the noise. Open your mind and heart to what your Lord and Savior might have in store!
C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy, and their German Shepherd, Abby.
