Accomplish
Oxford Dictionary definition – v. “to succeed in doing or completing something”
As I sat on my sofa this morning, attempting to be still and know that God is God, I became aware of that all too familiar, undercurrent of anxiety within. It didn’t catch me by surprise because we are well into this pandemic. That freshly minted descriptor UNPRECEDENTED has become commonplace alongside terms like social distance, shelter in place, novel corona and self-isolation.
The undercurrent of anxiety is a reminder that the world is not as is should be, and I’m STILL not in control. It sounds cliché because each of us knows this at some level. Every day we’re confronted with experiences that reveal our limitations. Moreover, new and necessary external restrictions are being imposed at astonishing rates. And that means we’re confronted with questions like, What am I going to do about it? and How am I going to manage for the long haul?
On one level you may be telling yourself that since you’re stuck at home you ought to be getting tons done around the house, and yet the undercurrent carries with it an element of lethargy. Zoning out in front of the TV or taking a nap is a lot easier, but another day goes by and what you hoped to accomplish still hasn’t happened. May I suggest you begin with being kind to yourself? These are unprecedented times! So start small. Make a list for the week of several manageable tasks and set out to accomplish at least one or two important tasks each day. Don’t forget to pat yourself on the back when you achieve them. Let the small successes fuel the next ones and add to the list each week. Keep the list visually before you and let satisfaction in accomplishing tasks become part of a healthy routine. Consider a way to celebrate your accomplishments at the end of a week and at the end of the month.
Even if you’re adaptable by nature and readily go with the flow, you may be living the question, “How long will I have to bend and flex?” It’s a valid question. The truth is, we just don’t know. This can be taxing if you place a high value on knowing. You may think if you read enough articles and source enough websites, you’ll gain enough information to make a difference. But will it? It might just feed a bottomless pit of what all of us want more of – control. Some experts advise you to put yourself on a modest diet of news and social media. Tuning in twice a day to a reliable source should provide you with sufficient updates to have a sense of what’s going on. Limit the number of times you check your social media accounts and decide ahead of time how many minutes are healthy for you to spend at it. Set a timer if need be.
But most importantly, pause throughout the day to take a few deep breaths and remember you are loved with an everlasting love by the God Who never changes. Turn over your concerns to the One Who sits enthroned in heaven and is ready to hear your prayers and receive your praise. Declare aloud that God is in control and be thankful that you are not. Declare what you believe and be honest about your unbelief. Ask God to accomplish His divine purposes in you, through you and in spite of you in this trying time. And while you’re at it, ask Him to accomplish His purposes in the world as well.
This Weighty Word can be prickly. It has the potential to make one feel judged, to have your value determined by how much or how little you’ve been accomplishing lately. Instead, let it serve as an invitation to sit with the Lord and ask what He has for you in this time.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ”
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. ”