“Communion is not the ascent of progress but is the gift of presence.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 9, 2026
But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31, NKJV
The other day, though I was battling a cold, I decided to go for a longer run. On the back half, I simply wasn’t feeling it: my head hurt, my knees ached, and I needed to catch my breath. As I slowed to a walk, I felt discouraged and frustrated by my bodily limitations. And yet, in the same moment, I felt the Spirit whisper, “This is an invitation to slow down.” As I walked, though I was running on a road I’d travelled dozens of times, I looked to my left and noticed the most beautiful creek, surrounded by spring blossoms and framed by a canopy of trees, as though it were a scene taken from the English countryside. I slowed even more, receiving this moment as a gift of beauty, realizing that in my rush to “improve” or “progress” as a runner, I’d blown past this spot countless times without even noticing.
I wonder what else we miss in our daily lives as a result of running when we should walk?
Wisdom invites us to slow down and see things in new ways. We are not on a ladder of continual progress by which our merits are assessed and lives defined. No, we are people made to live in communion with God and one another, and communion is not the ascent of progress but is the gift of presence. As Isaiah reminds us, we are made stronger when we wait on the Lord. Waiting and strength go hand in hand.
There may be seasons when the Lord has strengthened you so you can run with all your might. This is a good and beautiful thing. Yet his invitation to slow down and be renewed is not at odds with this vision of strength. There are times when the gift of his presence is found in the sprint and seasons in which his presence is in the invitation to be still, to walk slowly, and notice what you otherwise would be tempted to miss.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14)
Prayer
Father, let us not shy away from the gift that is found in slowing down to encounter you and our world in new ways. Remind us that presence is always the goal, not progress, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Where might the Lord be inviting you to slow down and encounter his presence in a new way today?
Related Reading
Psalm 46:10; Lamentations 3:25-26; Matthew 11:28-29
Worship Resource
Will Reagan: Not in a Hurry
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