Many of us find ourselves bustling through the day, moving to the rhythm of monotony
unaware of the beauty around us because we do not have the time to stop and admire
it because we are involved with too many things. We are either in college, having a
career, a homemaker or any combination of the three. In addition, we have an
exorbitant and endless to do list. Moreover, society screams in our faces that we ought
to balance all of our roles and still manage to have a healthy and fit body, great home,
well behaved children, polished careers, a college degree, a nice car and money in the
bank. Sometimes, even the church adds to the pressure. There are services to attend,
Sunday school to teach, ministries to facilitate, events to volunteer. Churches often
unknowingly overwhelm women with feelings of guilt. Then we are left wondering, “Why
can't I get it together? I must not be spiritual enough, if only I could have it as together
as the other women! Ladies, I do not know about you but I am exhausted. I am tired of
playing Wonder Woman or even trying to look like her!! I am certain that most if not all
of you concur with me that it is definitely trying. Ladies, when we try to play super
woman we tend to overextend ourselves and become angry because we act as the
martyr…. or we end up quitting.

Ladies, unless we are willing to sit on the bench...excuse my sports analogy (it seems
befitting as the baseball season ends and football begins) but it is as the men would
say, it is during "bench time” that we have a chance to stop and sit a while and enjoy
our surroundings before we get up and go at it again. It's in the bench that our Father
can show us the truth about our placement in life: Only He can help us with the
position and how to balance the pressures of life. As we sit and listen, God shows us
how to realign our priorities according to His purpose and the passion that He has
placed in us, and only He helps us see the color in our gray world. Only He teaches us
to find pleasure in the small things and to trust more and more in His provision.
So, I with great lamentation would have to agree with a man...yes ladies a man (at
times they can make sense) because it is on the bench that we learn that God wants the
whole of us, not our time, not our money, not our work but all of you. He wants to
spend time with you and He wants you to delight in Him.
So ladies, find a comfortable spot, curl up with a cup of java (or your favorite drink),
and anticipate God's presence as you begin to understand God's unfathomable love for
you and the divine purpose He has for your life.
Michelle Garcia
D.I.V.A Women’s Ministry