You Are Not Behind w/ Meghan Ryan Asbury
Embrace your journey, trust God, avoid comparison, practice gratitude.

by | Sep 9, 2024

Available Now

🎙️ Feeling like you’re falling behind in life? Don’t miss “Am I Doing This Right?” on the Thrive Podcast Network: Episode 28 – You Are Not Behind. Hosts Leslie Johnston and Morgan May Treuil dive into a riveting conversation with Megan Ryan Asbury about navigating the murky waters of unmet expectations. Megan shares her personal journey through faith crises, battling burnout, and overcoming the constant pressure of comparison in our social media-driven world. Discover how to shift from relentless striving to embracing gratitude, and learn practical steps to find contentment and trust in God’s perfect timing. And one more thing! Meghan’s book, “You Are Not Behind,” is out now! Check it out here: https://youarenotbehind.com/

Embracing the Journey: Faith, Gratitude, and Overcoming the Illusion of Falling Behind

Discovering Spiritual Contentment in a World Obsessed with Comparison and Future Ambitions

Our lives are often filled with the pressure to meet certain milestones. From social media feeds showcasing dream careers and picturesque family moments to societal expectations offering a cookie-cutter template for success, it’s easy to feel like we’re perpetually lagging behind. Beneath this surface lies a fundamental spiritual journey, urging us to shift our focus from comparison and future anxieties to faith, gratitude, and the present moment.

The Present Over the Future

One of the dominant messages emerging from our conversation is the importance of anchoring ourselves in the present. In our pursuit of future goals such as marriage, children, or career advancements, we often forget to cherish the daily blessings granted to us. This concept aligns closely with the biblical notion of praying for “daily bread”—a simple yet profound reminder to trust in God’s provision one day at a time.
When we constantly fixate on future aspirations, we inadvertently set ourselves up for disappointment and spiritual weariness. Emphasizing faith and trust in a higher power transforms our relationship with time, replacing anxiety about the future with a faithful focus on today’s grace. By doing so, we align ourselves more closely with God’s purposes, understanding that our life’s race extends beyond individual milestones to something of eternal significance.

Navigating Emotional Turmoil

Periods of anger and resistance toward God are natural in this journey. It’s vital to acknowledge these emotions, as they often signal the need for a deeper connection and trust in our spiritual growth. Feeling furious at unmet expectations is not a sign of weakness but rather an opportunity for transformation. Moving from blame to hope requires us to relinquish control and over-planning, embracing life’s uncertainties with faith.

Exhaustion and burnout can serve as pivotal moments, signaling a need for spiritual realignment. Instead of seeing these as defeats, they can be viewed as turning points where we surrender our need for control, trusting more deeply in God’s plan for us.

Gradual Spiritual Transformation

True spiritual growth doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a gradual and transformative process. Acknowledging God’s presence in our lives, even in small ways, can dramatically shift our perspective. Keeping journals to reflect on past prayers and their outcomes serves as a powerful tool in this journey. This practice not only fosters gratitude but also reveals the subtle ways in which God has been intimately involved in our lives, even when we weren’t aware.

Shifting from a state of continuous striving to one of recognition and gratitude can transform our spiritual lives. Rather than always chasing the next big thing, we learn to appreciate the “daily bread” provided and the incremental progress we make.

Practicing Gratitude

Gratitude is more than a fleeting emotion; it’s a deliberate practice that can reframe our entire outlook on life. This principle, deeply rooted in biblical teachings and Jewish cultural practices of remembrance, calls us to give thanks wholeheartedly. Starting with simple things—like the beauty of a new day, a meal shared with loved ones, or a moment of peace—can set the stage for greater spiritual awareness and contentment.

Acknowledging that comparison is a damaging habit is essential. Comparison not only breeds dissatisfaction but also draws us away from the spiritual abundance available in our unique journey. Actively combating this tendency requires daily efforts to focus on our paths and resist the allure of social media’s curated perfection. By doing so, we protect our hearts from the corrosion of envy and open ourselves to genuine joy and spiritual growth.

Building Authentic Community

While it can be a challenge to establish deep connections, especially in new environments or later stages of life, building a supportive and diverse community is indispensable for spiritual enrichment. Friendships that span different life stages offer a richer, broader perspective and remind us of the various ways God works in different seasons. The spiritual bond formed within such communities can provide mutual support and deepen our faith journeys.

This biblical idea of the body having different yet essential parts reflects the value of diverse community. Each person brings unique experiences and insights, contributing to a more holistic understanding of faith and life.

Running Your Unique Race

Hebrews 12 challenges us to “run the race set before you” without comparing ourselves to others. This call encourages us to embrace our unique paths and roles, understanding that God has designed specific purposes for each of us. Drawing inspiration from the “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11, we learn that living by faith often means moving forward despite not seeing all our promises fulfilled. This perspective shifts our focus from personal fulfillment to broader, divine purposes.
The journey of faith calls us to embrace our path without comparison, cultivating contentment in following God’s plan. This means recognizing and celebrating our role in a much larger, divine story.

Trusting in Divine Timing and Love

Ultimately, the journey toward spiritual contentment involves trusting in God’s perfect timing and unwavering love. When we shift our hope from life circumstances to God, we anchor our contentment in something eternal and unshakeable. This process not only deepens our faith but also enriches our daily lives with genuine joy and gratitude.

Our lives are not defined by societal milestones but by the faith we cultivate and the trust we place in God’s divine plan. By embracing the present, practicing gratitude, building authentic community, and running our unique race, we turn our spiritual journey into one of profound growth and fulfillment. In doing so, we realize that we are never truly “behind” but always right where we are meant to be in God’s grand design.

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