Breaking Up with My To-Do List
One of my strengths is that I am proactive, a planner, and the complete opposite of a procrastinator.
When I get an idea in my head or have a task to accomplish, I work efficiently and endlessly until it is finished!
However, this can also be one of my greatest weaknesses because sometimes, if I’m being honest, I take it a little too far.
The notion that tasks, plans, or exciting new ventures need to be realized instantly is not always realistic.
This personality quirk shows up in virtually every aspect of my life.
If I get an idea for a new project around the house, I would prefer for it to be done that day.
If I have a long to-do list, I often will not rest until each task is checked off.
Even in my writing, when I get a good, fresh idea for a blog or devotion, I immediately want to get to work, write it out, and get it finished.
But this mindset can leave me feeling burnt out, weary, and stressed!
Can you relate?
A black and white polka dot to-do list calendar.
In the first two chapters of Genesis, we can read an account of how God approached a very important task… Creation.
By examining these verses with a fresh perspective, two valuable lessons about managing our work both realistically and efficiently can be gained.
Build a Foundation:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
(Genesis 1:1-3)
The first lesson we can learn from the account of creation is to start with a foundation.
There is no doubt in my mind that God could have simply snapped His fingers and all of heaven and earth, down to the most minuscule detail, would have been effortlessly and instantly laid out before Him.
Instead, He worked slowly, methodically, and intentionally.
Let me take a minute to say a big “Thank you!” to the Man upstairs because this framework is a great lesson for us mere humans.
Whether we are planning a trip to a new destination, painting the house, or writing a new devotional series, if we start by thinking about all of the elements, small details, and steps that are involved, it is easy to get overwhelmed.
When this happens to me, it often causes me to rush, simply wanting the task to be done!
But God showed us a better way to approach our work.
He started His creation with the most basic foundation… Light. (Genesis 1:1-3)
From there, as His miraculous work progressed, He built bit-by-bit on this foundation.
After light, He created the sky to “separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” (Genesis 1:6)
This was followed by the creation of land, and then vegetation, the sun, moon, and stars, animals, and, finally, humans. (Genesis 1:9-27)
A water color painting of the Earth with the stars surrounding.
In this way, God showed us the best way to work.
Intentionally, logically, and with a firm foundation.
Just start by booking a hotel room for that trip, picking out your paint color for walls, or selecting a topic for your devotional series.
It is easy to bite off more than we can chew when we are eager to start a project.
However, I have found that, especially in my writing, it is better to start with a broad, general place, and as I work, narrow the focus down into the smaller, more intricate details, just as God did with creation.
Take a Step Back:
“And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.”
(Genesis 1:5)
Not only did God work methodically and logically bit by bit through creation, but He also took His time.
Again, there is no doubt that God could have instantly spoken everything into existence.
Instead, He took six days.
He allowed the evening to come and pass before starting the next task in His magnificent plan, and He even surveyed the quality of His work before moving on.
“And God saw that it was good.”
(Genesis 1:10)
God took a step back from His work and so can we!
Our society is so focused on efficiency that it is almost ingrained in us to constantly stay busy and be productive.
But we need that time to put down the pen, the brush, the computer, or whatever tool you are using and just walk away.
For a couple of hours, for the evening, or even for a day or two.
When you return with fresh eyes and a renewed mind, you will be able to more clearly survey your work and start again with new energy!
I do this a lot in my writing. When I feel stuck, I have learned not to force it.
It was very difficult at first to leave a task unfinished, but I have seen the benefits that come from taking breaks, taking my time, and taking a step back.
A brown park bench in the middle of a green field with sunshine beaming down.
God, the ultimate worker whether it be in miracles, creations, or the small details of our own lives, has taught us so much in these few verses.
I pray that you will take these lessons to heart and begin to look at your work with a new perspective and sense of motivation.
