Delighting in the Present

By Jessica Campbell, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Scripture Reading

• Psalm 131

It’s 2.30 a.m., and I am awakened by little cries from the small cot next to me. Barely awake, I stagger towards the sound. My half-opened eyes meet with wide-open little ones. I reach out and bring the distressed bundle towards me. Taking her back to bed with me, I feed her, calming the cries, and stopping the shuffling which has started coming from my husband lying beside us.

As my eyes start to focus, hers begin to close as her hunger subsides. This moment is special, a freeze-frame I lock into my memory. I feel like we are the only two people awake in the world and that the moment is exclusively ours to enjoy.

Living in the moment is easy to say and hard to do. Believe me, I have often contemplated future risks and rehashed past failures. However, I’ve also experienced the simplicity and peace of living in the here and now with the help of God’s word. Psalm 131 helps me and has even more impact on me now that I’ve become a mum. It reads:

“My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me. Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, both now and forevermore.”

For a minute or two, let’s talk about a few of its themes.

Pride robs us from having a still and quiet spirit

“I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me. Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul.”

Wait a minute.  “What does pride have to do with not being able to have a still and quiet spirit?” you may ask. When I first read this scripture, I too was confused about why this connection was being made. But I have learnt, that with God’s word, there is always truth in the detail, so let’s break it down: 

Let’s face it, we may not be cognisant of it, but pride baits us to try to understand the things we cannot. This is because pride convinces us that we have as great a capacity to understand as God does.

I have tried in vain to understand the innermost thoughts of another person and come up with the solution to the current wars across the globe and, in the process, needlessly caused myself more frustration than peace. I’ve found value in knowing my limitations and trusting God with these things that only He can understand. 

Appreciate what God has done

“…like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.”

My baby still needs the milk I give her, as without it she cannot survive. But when a child is weaned, they have received sufficiently the milk they’ve needed for their early life. That milk has helped them fight off infection, strengthened their bones, and supported their growth.

We too have been metaphorically weaned. God has defended, upheld, and nurtured us up to this point in our lives. There is contentment in acknowledging this and remembering specific examples.

In my life God, provided parents who regularly took me to church, where I was introduced to His word. He put people in my life who trusted God. One of them was even willing to study the Bible with me. He caused a godly brother to like me, and now our marriage encourages me to draw closer to God.

Help others live in the moment

“O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, both now and forevermore.”

When I was living in London, I went to a singles ministry house party and a brother asked me if I found it hard to live in the moment. Since the party began, I had busied myself with putting out snacks. The question took me by surprise, and it made me stop and think. The answer to his question was yes. He had helped me rethink how I was acting at that party, and other ministry parties, and helped me focus more on enjoying the company of those present.

Let’s be sisters who help others live in the moment, like how Jesus helped Martha when she was caught up in preparations in Luke 10. He explained that choosing to be with Him, like her sister had done in that situation, was what was best.

Questions for Reflection

1. Do you ever try to understand things only God can? If so, what kind of things?

2. In what ways has God supported your journey of knowing Him so far?

3. How can you help others live in the moment?

Today I will

Stop for few minutes at some point today to simply enjoy the moment you are in and thank God for it.

About the Author

Jessica Campbell is 32 years old and lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She has been a disciple for 12 years, married to her husband, Mark, for two years, and been a mum to her daughter Emma for three months. She has worked with various charities including ICC Missions as a One Year Challenger in the North London Church, then as a Youth Intern in the Belfast Church. She is now on maternity leave from her current employment in the Northern Irish government services.