Missed Deadlines

You may notice this week’s Mid-Week Pause hitting your in box a little later than usual. I (Anthony) was up early praying this morning, trying to focus my mind and heart on Jesus, when out of nowhere it hit me.

Ohhh no, I forgot about this week’s Mid-Week Pause!

Jake and I go back and forth on writing these. This was my week, and I totally spaced it! I totally dropped the ball. I can list the reasons why it slipped my mind, but none of that matters.

After I realized my failure, my prayer time felt hurried and distracted. I was thinking about what to do. Do I try to pull something together right now? Do I let it slide? My mind began to spiral.

Then…

The shame set in. I pride myself on consistently meeting deadlines and delivering a high-quality product. But that was not the case that week. This simple mind slip led me down a shame spiral where I began telling myself I am a failure and worthless (I am not being dramatic, this is how my mind sometimes attacks me when I fail at something). As the shame set in, I felt Jesus telling me, “It’s ok! Let this go. It’s no big deal.”

I have a feeling I am not alone. We all fail at times, and in those moments, we have two options. To beat ourselves up or turn to Jesus and rest in his grace.  

Today, I invite you to PAUSE as you bring your failures to Jesus.

Take a few breaths in and out.

Pray:

Holy Spirit, still my heart and mind as I reflect on the past week and bring you the places I have failed, great and small.

As you bring these failures before God, hold out your hands palms up as you surrender them to Jesus.

Take a moment to let these things go, and then read the following passage 2-3 times, slowly.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8).

The world often expects and demands perfection. Not Jesus. Jesus died for your imperfection and gives you his perfection. Jesus loves you just as you are, failures and all.

Go in peace.

This week’s Pause was written by Anthony Celia

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