Learning to Stay with God, Instead of Rushing Past Him

If abiding were on a checklist, I’d probably try to check it off in under three minutes. Pray. Read a verse. Sip a Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar. Feel holy. Move on. Except that’s not really abiding—that’s multitasking with a Bible open. Some days I wake up already tired. Not because I didn’t sleep—but because my mind is already running. The to-do list. The worries. The pressure to be productive. The feeling that if I don’t keep moving, something will fall apart.

I’m really good at doing for God… but not always great at simply being with Him. I pray quickly. I listen halfway. I rush through quiet moments because stillness feels unproductive. I want answers. Direction. Clarity. Fixes. And God gently reminds me that He’s not asking me to strive harder—He’s asking me to stay closer.

Jesus says in John 15:4, “remain in me, and I will remain in you.” Not perform for Me. Not prove yourself. Not exhaust yourself trying to hold everything together. Just abide.

Abiding feels simple—but it’s actually one of the hardest things we do. Because abiding requires trust. It means staying connected even when we don’t feel fruitful. Resting when we want to rush. Sitting with God when we’d rather distract ourselves. Letting Him be enough when we’re tempted to chase control.

Abiding doesn’t mean life suddenly gets quieter or easier. It means we stop carrying it alone. It means we stay rooted in God when circumstances don’t make sense. We return to Him again and again—not just when things fall apart, but when they’re ordinary too.

I’m learning that fruit doesn’t come from effort alone—it comes from connection. Peace doesn’t come from having everything figured out—it comes from staying close to the One who does. And growth doesn’t come from constant motion—it comes from remaining.

Sometimes abiding looks like opening your Bible and not knowing where to start. Sometimes it looks like sitting in silence and saying, “God, I’m here.” Sometimes it looks like choosing prayer over panic. Presence over productivity. Trust over control. And the best part... God honors that. He meets us in the staying. He works in the waiting. He produces fruit in seasons when we feel empty.

So, stay close. You don’t have to do more to be loved. You just have to remain.

SHE Walks in Faith

Where have you been striving instead of abiding? Pause today and ask God to help you stay connected to Him—not just in your doing, but in your being.

🩷 Prayer

God, teach me how to abide in You. When I’m tempted to strive, remind me to stay. When I feel restless, help me rest in Your presence. I want to remain connected to You—not just in busy seasons, but in quiet ones too. Produce in me what only You can. Amen.