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I was convicted the other day while preparing to give a talk on my first book, The Desert Walk. As I sat with the material, I sensed the Lord speaking gently to my heart.
I’m an introvert who prefers the quiet life—stillness, peace, and time in nature. I don’t seek the spotlight. I prefer the early morning darkness before the sun rises and the world begins to stir, in the comfort of my prayer chair with my journal, Bible, and a cup of tea.
That quiet, hidden time with the Lord is where I feel most at home.
But that may not be the life Jesus always asks of us, what is preferred or comfortable. Following Him requires surrender. Jesus lived a sacrificial life. The apostles who followed Him did the same. The early church that pursued Him gave up comfort, predictability—even their lives. As St. Paul writes,
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”—(Philippians 1:21)
If He is truly our first love, we follow—no matter the hardship, cost, or inconvenience. When we place our desires, our wants, and our plans into His hands and allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit, we become willing to go where we wouldn’t naturally choose, to say yes when we would rather stay hidden.
The night before I gave my talk, I was full of doubt and frustration. As I reviewed my notes, I found myself thinking, This isn’t very good. What am I trying to say? It won’t resonate.
And then, in the quiet, I sensed the gentle whisper of Jesus:
“This isn’t about performance, this is about My presence.”
The negative thoughts came to an immediate halt. I put down my notes, and everything shifted.
What is the Lord ultimately asking of us? Not perfection, not eloquence, and not measurable success.
He is asking us to bring His presence into every place we go and to every person we meet because success in the Kingdom isn’t measured by what we accomplish, but by Who we carry with us.
May we have the courage to go where He leads—and the grace to carry His presence there so that everyone we meet might encounter the love of God.
That is how the Kingdom of God grows: one encounter at a time, one heart transformed, one person deeply seen, heard, and known.
Reflection:
Where might Jesus be inviting you to choose presence over performance today?
