Does it sound strange if I say I miss Jesus? He’s with me every second of every day, but I’m continually distracted or focused on something specific, and it sometimes feels like we’re not really connecting. At least, not in a way that makes my soul thrive.
Last fall, I was immersed in preparing to teach another Bible study at my church, and even though I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent prayerfully digging into God’s Word, every moment felt urgent and weighed heavily with the responsibility of faithfully imparting the message God had for the group. I loved every minute of it, but it often became more about completion than communion.
Task-Oriented Togetherness
It’s a bit like my husband and me. Sometimes, during busy seasons, we become consumed by the to-dos and our calendars. Even though we’re doing things together and talking every day, we’re not actually connecting. Our conversations revolve around time-sensitive decisions, task management, or other important things. And even though we’re technically together, that togetherness somehow lacks the connection our relationship thrives on.
We’ve learned to be intentional about agenda-free connection. We schedule time to just be together, to simply enjoy each other’s company with no chores to attend to, no plans to discuss, no serious matters to address. While navigating life’s challenges together has certainly strengthened our marriage, so too have the simple moments of lighthearted camaraderie. Sipping an iced coffee on a sunny patio and watching the world go by—together. Laughing about a moment of clumsiness—together. Imagining fantastical scenarios just for the fun of it—together. And yes, sometimes sharing more deeply about our unanswerable questions, fond and not-so-fond memories, and the dreams we dare to dream.
Connection By Communion
So, last week, I made a change. I wanted my morning devotional time to be a mutual blessing to God and me, so I set aside my prayer and Bible-reading agenda and sought communion rather than completion. I slowed down, sat in silence, listened expectantly to what He might want to tell me through His Word each morning—like the slow sunrise chats I have with my husband, with a steaming mug in hand, pausing, sipping, speaking, sipping, listening. I meditated on one psalm each day instead of flying through my scheduled reading plan.
A little side note: The psalms were like a prayer book and hymnal for the Hebrews in the Bible. Have you ever considered that Jesus, during His earthly life, read, memorized, sung, and prayed the same psalms we read today? I find it helpful to ponder that sometimes. When I read a psalm, I think about what it must have meant to Him during His time here on earth. Try it! Next time you read a psalm, imagine Jesus reading it, too!
Back to my story…
As I stilled my heart and mind in the psalms, I aimed to converse with the Lord rather than solely convey my own thoughts. Oh, I prayed. But I prayed in response. I let His Word speak to me first. I took my cue from the psalm of the day, joining in praise, thanksgiving, and heartfelt worship, confessing fears and failures, lamenting and laughing, and loving the One with whom I was spending time.
Connection With God Without Ideal “Quiet Times”
If you’re thinking, “That sounds lovely, but it’s completely impossible for me,” I’ve been there. I know those mornings when the alarm doesn’t go off and five disheveled bodies are scrambling for socks and snacks before scooting out the door just in the nick of time. I know that hormones, brain fog, and chronic illness are real, life-altering experiences that can rob us of the clarity and calm we crave. I know about deadlines and distractions, too.
So, I’m not going to tell you to try harder to carve out an idyllic time with Jesus when you’re neck-deep in the stuff of life. All I’m asking you to do is hang on to that hunger for connection with Him. And when you do take a moment to read His Word or pray, remember that He’s real. He’s a real being who really desires a real relationship with you. Sometimes, it’s okay to just be with Him.
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God” (Psalm 42:1–2)?