Immediately

“But Mom, I need that now!”

“Dad, you always tell me to wait a few more minutes.”

“Honey, how much longer will you be?”

Are statements like these heard around your house? Maybe they increased over the last few days as family members anxiously prepared for and awaited arrival at Breakaway!

I often feel the tyranny of the urgent. Do you? It is not always easy to discern what is urgent and what is important.

My favorite Gospel is Mark. One reason I like this book is because of how the word “immediately” is used so often. Depending on the version you read, it can be up to forty-two times in sixteen chapters! You may see the same Greek word translated as “straightaway,” “as soon as,” or “at once.”

The context of these “immediately” responses vary. Some refer to how Jesus healed someone, others to how he intervened knowing their thoughts, or when instructing his disciples. Still, other references are situational to the story.

While Mark uses immediately most often, the other Gospel writers use it to a lesser degree.

Our key verse for this week is Matthew 14:27: “Immediately Jesus spoke to them. ‘Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid’.”

Here, the word “immediately” brings comfort. When dealing with anxiety or fear, as the disciples were, it is reassuring to know Jesus is immediately present.

Our day-to-day world often demands immediacy to respond to a text, to return a phone call, to buy now at the low, low price of . . .

Recently, I was given a long weekend getaway. Jerry calls these breaks “Weekends of Joan.” I get to go wherever I want and spend the days as I wish. He arranges for friends to help with his care needs. This time, I had ideas about what I wanted to write and do. When I arrived at my destination, I pulled out my laptop and asked God where to begin. He told me about a change to my plan. He wanted me to have a “Weekend of Plan Be.” Not a Plan B, referring to the second best, but a Plan Be—to rest in Him, and rest upon the bed, to enjoy the pool, and to read books that were fun and restorative for me. What a refreshing gift that was from our Lord.

Perhaps God is asking you to evaluate the immediacies in your life this week. Do you believe He is immediately present with you when you call on Him? Do you respond to what He asks of you straightaway? Do you allow margin in your life to have some “Plan Be” time?

I’d like to encourage you this week to look for ways God responds immediately in your life. While at the same time, allowing yourself the time and flexibility to “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Devotional written by Joan Borton for Breakaway Family Camp, presented by Lift Disability Network

Follow along with the camp's daily devotionals HERE.