As I read 2 Timothy 1:7, it says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind." I try to imagine what it truly looks like to walk in the fullness of what God has given me—who He desires me to be and the purpose He has for my life.
Sometimes, I get caught up in the busyness of the day. Anxiety can creep in as I think about all I need to do—tasks to complete, responsibilities to manage.
That feeling of overwhelm begins to rise within me. My first instinct is to keep busy—to make lists, to do more, to channel that energy into activity.
But then I consider what Paul encourages in 2 Timothy 1:6, where he says, "Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." God has imparted spiritual gifts into us—gifts that we are called to nurture and rekindle. And the reminder that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind" reassures me that I don’t have to be controlled by anxiety or busyness. The Holy Spirit equips us with mighty power, love, and self-control.
In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Paul speaks about the outer and inner person. While our external bodies gradually wear away, our inner selves are being renewed each day. Our temporary troubles, when viewed through the lens of eternity, are light and momentary—they are preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. We are encouraged to focus not on what is seen, which is temporary, but on what is unseen—what is eternal. So often, I find myself focusing on what I can see—trying to control, solve, and manage everything in my own strength. I strive to keep everything within my grasp, but this is the outer person attempting to control what only God is sovereign over. I forget that I am a child of the Most High God—not meant to toil and strain, distracted by busyness to drown out the voice of my Father. God simply whispers, "Slow down. You are already enough. You are my beloved child." My performance metrics—comparing myself to others or trying to prove my worth—are futile in His eyes. The busyness I fill my days with is only a distraction from Him. He calls me to slow my mind, to sit in His presence, and to listen—to ask Him what He would have me focus on today. I need to rebuke the distractions of this world that keep me busy and disconnected from His voice. In His presence, I can be reshaped; I can step into the identity He created me to be.