Press the Pause Button by Pastor Karena Lout

Years ago, Todd and I performed in a few shows in Branson, Missouri.  If you aren’t familiar with Branson, it’s an entertainment tourist attraction for families and seniors traveling by tour bus. Let’s just say, I hope most evidence from this time period will remain hidden. It was quite a funny and interesting time in our lives. We started out in the Andy Williams show at the Moon River Theater and later moved on to a musical about the life of Jesus called The Promise. The show ran six days a week, twice a day in a 2500 seat theater.

One of my roles in the production was an angel, where I got to fly over the audience, along with my twin sister. I had a lot of vision and expectancy in my heart as I took on this new job. During rehearsals, I remember the exhilaration I felt stepping off the catwalk and flying for the first time. I was excited to see how God was going to move in our shows. But over time, this “dream job” became very familiar and mundane. There were many times I would go out on stage and recite my lines without any thought or emotion attached at all. I was doing everything from a place of functionality. Even though we saw countless lives touched and changed through the Gospel, at times it felt like it was just another job I needed to make income.

One day as I was climbing the ladder up to the catwalk to prepare to fly, I felt an overwhelming sense of God’s presence begin to pierce my heart in a way I hadn’t felt before. I started weeping uncontrollably as the soldiers began to whip the actor who portrayed Jesus down the aisle below me. My heart was getting so moved by what Jesus endured for me that I forgot I was actually at work. I felt purpose behind what I was doing again. God started to tenderize my heart in a way that I really needed.

There are many times we succumb to going through the motions of life, forgetting the purpose behind it all. We get so busy with what we’re doing that we forget why we started in the first place. Whether you’re a pastor, at home raising your children or leading a business meeting, if you don’t have vision and passion for what you’re doing, you may find yourself steeped in dullness and burned out. We were created to be fully alive, our hearts connected so that we can thrive in the places God has put us.

Sometimes we need to press the pause button, to remember and ask why. Why am I at this particular job? Why am I giving my time to this or that? Why was I born at this particular point in history? If our hearts aren’t connected, aren’t moved, then even the really good things we’re doing can feel futile. I encourage you today to take time with Jesus and ask Him to remind you of the vision He has for your life. He really is involved in every aspect of our lives. There is no separation. It’s finding Him in the little things, the big things, even the not so thrilling part of our lives that we come to understand Jesus is ever present with us.

I pray that our loving Father will show you the endless opportunities He has for you each day you wake up. I pray that He will soften and tenderize your heart even more and that you will experience the real connection He paid for!

“My heart is confident in you, O God, my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises. Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song.” Psalm 57:7-8 (NLT)

With Love, Karena