There is a reason people have started calling the month of May, “Maycember.” Between graduations, concerts, exams, recitals, sports schedules, banquets, vacations, church activities, doctors' appointments, and work deadlines, many people feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with everything on the calendar in May. By the end of the day, folks are exhausted, running on fumes, and wondering how there could possibly be one more thing to do. In seasons like this, it can feel difficult to slow down long enough to notice God’s presence.
Scripture reminds us that God is not absent from busy seasons. God does not wait for our schedules to slow down. He is always drawing near to us, and some of the holiest moments can happen right in the middle of ordinary life when we recognize his presence. God can meet us in the carpool line, at the kitchen sink, in the office, at the ballfield, and between errands and appointments. The presence of God is not limited to quiet sanctuaries. God walks with us through the chaos of everyday life because he is with us wherever we go!
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Sometimes we imagine stillness as complete silence and solitude, but sometimes stillness begins internally before it ever happens externally. It can be as simple as taking a deep breath in the middle of a stressful day and remembering that God is with us.
Jesus understood busy seasons, too. Crowds constantly surrounded him. People needed his help, and the demands of ministry were constant. But throughout the Gospels, Jesus continually paused to pray and reconnect with the Father. He reminds us that communion with God does not require a perfectly clear calendar. It can happen in small moments and at any time of day.
Seeking God in busy seasons may look like whispering a quick prayer at a stoplight, listening to worship music while working on a project around the house, or simply praying, “Lord, help me,” between responsibilities. These small moments of praying continually through the day matter more than we realize.
Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Notice that Jesus does not say, “Come to me when life slows down.” He simply says, “Come to me.”
Perhaps finding God during “Maycember” is not about adding one more thing to our to-do list. Instead, it is about learning to pause, breathe, and remember that God is already with us in the middle of it all.
Jesus loves you, Union Family, and I do too!