Lord, I Am Coming
“My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’” -Psalm 27:8
All summer long the Lord has met me for coffee early in the morning…. and I leave Him waiting. I consider Him, but then I consider the extra minutes of sleep I’m due given the busy week I’ve had, and I slide my alarm clock to “off.” He crosses my mind each evening, gently reminding me of our date at sunrise, but I savor the late hours lounging with my husband or I dive deeper into the pages of a fictitious page turner, and I push the thought away. I’ll wake up to His nudging, pour the coffee, sit down on the couch with every intent to pray, but I’ll pick up my phone instead. Just a quick social media scroll, a text to return, an email to check. By then the kids are awake, stumbling into the kitchen with needs to be met. The dog scratches at the door to go out. I see my flowers in the backyard need watering and last night’s dishes to be put away. These things can all wait, but so can God. This is how I justify my choices.
By day’s end I feel fatigued, lacking in joy, wondering where my time went. God is still there, patiently waiting for my attention. I left Him out, I realize. All day I busied myself in the mess of the mundane while He waited from the sidelines, watching my coffee cup drain as quickly as my soul.
This has been my summer struggle. These long, hot months without routine throw off even my most sacred of rituals. Each day blurs into the next. We’re all more relaxed, lazy even, neglecting the routines we live by all school year. Fall, winter and spring you’ll find me faithfully greeting the Lord with the sunrise. With a mug of hot coffee in hand, my Bible and prayer journal on my lap, I nestle into a dimly corner of the sofa, donning messy curls and wrinkled pajamas, and I breathe in His peaceful presence. But in June, July and August I tell the Lord, “Fall is coming. I’ll meet with You again soon. Just let me get through summer.” Through the din of summer chaos, the camps, vacations, pool parties, playdates, late nights and lazy mornings, my heart hears Him say, “Come and talk with me.”
In the middle of the summertime struggle when every day is different and distracted, the Maker of the Universe wants to converse with me. My Creator wants to hear my voice. He is waiting to listen to my weary words, my rushed confessions, my simple gratitude as I make my way through the long summer hours. As I brew another cup of iced coffee for the road, as I sit poolside while my children play, as I pack the suitcases, He has much to tell me. He is eager to fill my soul with words of love, encouragement and conviction. He will wait as long as it takes.
My summer calendar may be full, but my heart is empty. I’ve been running on fumes and neglecting a refill because autumn is just around the corner and I can make it ‘til then. But I can’t. Not really. I can’t keep Him waiting any longer. I can’t afford to. No more ignoring His request to “Come and talk.” No more will I say, “Tomorrow, Lord,” “I’ll be right back, Father,” or “Just a few more minutes, God.” No. Beginning today, while summer is far from over, my heart responds, “Lord I am coming.”
Study & Reflection: What season do you find it hardest to meet with God? What keeps you from coming and talking with God? Where do you notice the difference in seasons you consistently meet with God versus seasons you don’t? No matter what your calendar holds, tell everything else to wait and sit down with God today. Bring Him your empty cup. Let Him in to the most hurried, messy parts of your day. Listen to what He has to say.
Prayer: Father God, forgive me for ignoring Your prompting to come and talk with You. Forgive me for the excuses I’ve made, the laziness I’ve succumb to, and for tuning into distractions rather than Your voice. Thank You for Your patience with me. I pray for a heart that responds to You with eagerness from now on. May I never again take for granted that the You, the Holy God, Maker of all things, King of Kings, desires to talk with me. I am coming Lord. I will not keep You waiting. Amen.