Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
John 15:4, NKJV
“Are we there yet?” Those four little words are among the most dreaded any parent ever hears in a compact space. While kids today have phones and tablets to distract them from the slow-moving hands of a clock, when I was a kid, we had road trip games. My brothers and I would search for words beginning with each letter of the alphabet and play one side of the car against the other. That was better than the “100 Bottles of Coke on the Wall” song (because my parents didn’t allow us to sing about beer).
Most road trips, especially when you are young, seem endless. The destination is the point of excitement for which you yearn. The trip itself has no purpose except to transport you from point A to point B.
As adults, it is easy to carry that same mindset into life—always rushing toward the next finish line. We become so goal-oriented that we end up as narrow-minded as children with their eyes on the prize—disregarding the possibilities along the way. While focus is important (as I shared in my previous blog), we can’t overlook the gift of development that comes with the process.
Lessons From Ants (I Don’t Like Ants)
When I was young, I wanted an ant farm. The only problem is, I could imagine ants getting loose in my room, and then I’d have to convince my parents to move. I don’t like crawling critters of any kind, and every experience I’ve ever had with an ant has been negative. But I thought watching ants tunnel through sand in their glass house would be fascinating.
Ants dig within a day of entering a new habitat, and there’d always be something to look at as the farm changed daily. Even God’s Word encourages us to learn from the ant’s hardworking ways. (Proverbs 6:6-8) Ants remind us that progress is rarely instant—it’s steady, diligent, daily work that builds something beautiful over time.
The Long Process of Building
I was reminded of this truth when a friend built her house. She could hardly wait for the process to begin and gathered friends to pray over the property. Each stage was exciting: breaking ground, laying the foundation, framing the rooms, and roughing-in the plumbing and electrical.
But there were also days when progress seemed to halt—when paperwork stalled, when rain delayed construction, or when they were waiting on materials. I never realized how tedious and detailed it is to see a building project through from start to finish.
When the builders finished the home, my excitement level was through the roof. I remembered what the property looked like before, and seeing the finished home was thrilling. But my friend was exhausted! She had lived through every detail of the process. I saw only the amazing result. She experienced the journey.
The Gift of Time
A friend and author, Ron Sprayberry, responded to some of my writing about staying focused on God’s call. His words stayed with me:
I realized an important truth a few years ago:
(1) The most basic and most universal currency that exists is our time. Anything we think we own, house, business, automobile, bank accounts, etc, any relationships we have (including our relationship with Christ), are simply what we traded our time for.
(2) The older we get, the more precious this gift becomes.
As I thought about Ron’s words, I considered what a precious gift time is. We all have the same amount every day we live: 24 hours. What we do with that time—how we spend it—is up to us.
Heaven is our ultimate reward, and we must keep our eyes on that prize. Paul says in Philippians 3:14 (CEV): “I run toward the goal, so I can win the prize of being called to Heaven. This is the prize God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.”
But if salvation’s only purpose was to get us into Heaven, God could just receive us home the moment we accepted Jesus as Savior. Instead, He has a better plan. He uses us to point others to Him. That means our journey matters, and that’s why our focus must be on the plans and purposes to which God is calling us, not just on our final destination.
Abiding In The Everyday
Jesus’ words in John 15:4 (NKJV) are powerful:
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
The Greek word for “abide” is meno, which means “not to depart, to continue to be present, to remain as one, to tarry.” Jesus is describing a relationship that’s ongoing, daily, and intentional.
This is what He desires—not just that we finish the race, but that we walk with Him every mile along the way. He wants to be part of our everyday lives—helping us with our calling, guiding us in our work, encouraging us as we serve our families, and empowering us to love others well. He is a friend who is always with us and wants to be invited into every decision, every moment. The joy isn’t just in the outcome—it’s in the ongoing relationship.
Paul describes the fruit of this abiding in Galatians 5:22-23 (CEV): “God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.” These aren’t rewards we collect at the finish line—they’re gifts produced in us as we journey with Him.
Joy In The Journey
David captures this message of a joyful journey beautifully in Psalms 16:11 (CEV):
“You have shown me the path to life, and You make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at Your right side, I will always be joyful.”
That passage reminds us that when we are in His presence, we have access to a joy that fully satisfies us. It’s an abundant joy not based on circumstances, but based on presence. God doesn’t want us to miss the joy of the process because we’re too focused on the prize. He’s with us in every decision, every milestone, and even every slow season when it feels like nothing is moving forward. And when He’s in us and we’re in Him, we can find within us a deep-seated joy that we can’t explain or get away from, even when outward circumstances don’t support it.
So this week, as you go about your tasks, invite Jesus into each moment. Where can you pause to abide in His peace, joy, and love? Where can you celebrate the milestones, however small? And where can you celebrate the ongoing journey of those around you?
Life is not just about “arriving.” It’s about walking with Him, day by day. Find unexpected joy in your journey. Let’s not just endure the ride—let’s completely enjoy it with Him.
Life with Jesus isn’t about rushing to arrive—
it’s about walking daily in delight.
References:
“G3306 – menō – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 7 Sep, 2025. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3306/kjv/tr/0-1/
Ron Sprayberry, email message to Holly Murray, September 5, 2025.
Scripture quotations marked (CEB) are taken from the Common English Bible, Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible. Used by permission. www.CommonEnglishBible.com
Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are taken from the Contemporary English Version®, Copyright © 1995 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
For more about faith and believing for the impossible, get Holly’s book, Believing for a Miracle available in paperback and Kindle versions on Amazon.
5-Minute Reset with Jesus
🌿 Find Peace in Just 5 Minutes with Jesus
Life feels busy. Your heart is pulled in a hundred directions, and before you know it, the day is gone—yet your soul still feels restless.
But what if, in just 5 minutes, you could pause, breathe, and reset with Jesus?
That’s why I created the 5-Minute Reset with Jesus Guide—a free printable resource to help you slow down, stop striving, and invite God’s peace and presence into your everyday moments.
✨ What You’ll Receive:
- A simple, step-by-step guide to quiet your mind and heart
- Scripture to anchor your soul in God’s truth
- Gentle prompts to help you release stress and refocus on what matters most
- Space for reflection and prayer to connect deeply with Jesus
💌 Why You’ll Love It:
This reset isn’t another “to-do” for your busy day—it’s a life-giving pause. In just 5 minutes, you’ll experience:
✔ More peace in your spirit
✔ Renewed focus for your calling
✔ A deeper sense of God’s presence right where you are
🌸 Ready to Begin?
Don’t wait for life to slow down—choose to slow your heart today.
👉 Enter your email below to grab your free 5-Minute Reset with Jesus Guide and start experiencing the joy of walking in His peace, one moment at a time.
(It’s a beautiful one-page printable you can keep in your Bible, on the table next to your favorite cozy chair, or even post on your fridge.)
🌿 Abide in Me: Free Scripture Coloring Pages
Life is noisy, busy, and often overwhelming. Sometimes your soul just needs a simple way to pause, breathe, and rest in God’s presence.
That’s why I created the “Abide in Me” Coloring Pages—a set of 3 beautifully designed, Scripture-based pages to help you slow down and soak in the peace of Jesus. *only 2 shown here
✨ What You’ll Get:
- 3 Printable Scripture Coloring Pages featuring designs and encouraging Bible verses about abiding in Jesus.
- A creative way to meditate on God’s Word—coloring as you reflect on Scripture.
- A gentle tool to help you quiet your heart, release stress, and focus on Jesus in the middle of your busy day.
💌 Why You’ll Love It:
✔ Encourages stillness and reflection
✔ Brings Scripture to life in a personal, creative way
✔ Perfect for quiet time, family devotion, or a peaceful reset during a busy week
Whether you’re looking for a moment of peace for yourself, or a fun way to share God’s Word with your children or small group, these pages are designed to help you draw near to Jesus and abide in Him.
🌸 Ready to Rest in Him?
Don’t let the busyness of life keep you from His presence. Take a few moments to slow down, breathe, and abide in Christ with these free coloring pages.
👉 Enter your email below to receive your free Abide in Me Coloring Set and start experiencing the joy of resting in His Word today.
Have you ever sensed God whispering in the middle of your to-do list?
Maybe it was a nudge to text a friend, an unexpected conversation in the grocery store, or a quiet moment in the car when you suddenly felt seen and sensed God’s presence stirring your heart to listen.
I created Meeting God in the Ordinary for women like us—women who want to live on purpose, listen closely, and follow Jesus even when life feels full (and a little chaotic).
This 30-day devotional will help you:
✅ Recognize God’s presence in everyday life
✅ Respond to His nudges with bold faith
✅ Love others deeply—even in small, unnoticed ways
Each day includes a short devotional, scripture, reflection question, and one simple step of obedience.
Because you don’t need to be perfect.
You just need to be present.
Ready to start your 30-day journey?
Download Meeting God in the Ordinary for just $4.99 and discover how small moments become sacred when we say yes.
🛒 Get the Devotional Now
(Available as an instant download on my website!)
