Is Ease Within Effort Possible?
Living from an internal slowness
We live in a fast-moving and ever-hurrying world. Our food can be cooked fast. Our laundry is done within an hour. “Take a fast shower!” I yell towards my kids. We check our emails in line at the grocery store. We say, “Hurry up!” more times than we can count to get out the door. We move from one task to another, over and over again, without much pause or awareness of how our internal world feels.
Now, there are so many aspects of life that we have little power to change, which take up much of our time, money, effort, and emotional space. I am not necessarily talking about a slower, outward life—although I am a firm advocate that our outward world shows clear indicators of what’s going on internally. I invite you, dear reader, and myself, to practice compassion for ourselves that may feel unfamiliar, and to breathe from a place of knowing that could feel uncomfortable.
How do we live from a sense of ease within us while pouring ourselves wholeheartedly into the work of daily life?
Ease within effort—is it even possible?
Take a deep breath. You’re not alone.
I hope you just actually took a breath when you saw this picture.
If you didn’t—do it now.
Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Slowly.
Intentionally.
Our nervous systems are often running at such heightened rates that it is vital we continually invite our bodies, souls, and minds to really slow down. Because when we do slow down, when we do quiet our minds and hearts, be it just for a minute, what will we find?
1. We are more than capable
There have been seasons of my life where I went around apologizing for what was not mine to hold—doubting what I had to bring to this world what I wanted, needed, or valued. I’m often surprised by the way Jesus healed those in the Bible; it was often by physical touch and by inviting the person to participate in the healing process—they were often instructed to stretch, go, tell, stand up, and speak.
What if we lived in a way that mirrored Jesus’ belief in our capability?
We are worth it.
What we bring has immense value.
Our voices matter.
Our participation alongside the Trinity in our lives is deeply important.
I don’t ever remember reading where Jesus asked someone to apologize for how they were made, or how they struggled—we don’t need to either.
2. We are right where the Trinity is
Over many years, I heard about “God’s call” and what that looked like in my life. It felt like a mystery that I was supposed to go on a treasure hunt to discover. It felt hidden and unknown.
What’s beautiful about the Trinity is that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are always hemming us in—behind and before. They are ever-present. They are ever-near. They dwell within us.
Their presence isn’t conditional.
Their presence isn’t a mystery.
Their presence isn’t added to or taken away from.
It just is.
Always has and always will be.
What if we lived with the ease of knowing we’re deeply loved—like a new parent rocking their newborn, slow and present—in a world that values what we can show more than who we are?
This is just the beginning of daily invitations to living a life of ease within the effort.
Of loving ourselves, because we are a beautiful creation.
Living from an internal knowing that, no matter what, we are deeply loved.
Breathing deeply.
Breathing love into ourselves.
Breathing presence into our bodies.
Breathing hope out into the world.
Let’s breathe together today.
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