Live in the Moment

No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. – Luke 9:62 (NRSVCE)

Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil. – Matthew 6:34 (NABRE)

It’s really hard to live in the present. Let’s face it. Most of us spend more time in the past or the future.

Sometimes, all we can think about is the past. Our past failures, our past wounds, those scars that haven’t yet fully healed. Or, on the flip side of the same coin, we live in the memory of the “good ol’ days” and pine for the times that are already past.

Other times, the future occupies all our thinking. We either look forward with worry about what’s ahead, because we do or don’t know what’s coming, or we spend so much time looking forward to our plans for the future that we miss all the blessings God wants to give us in the current moment.

Actually, that last point is true for all of them. When we spend too much time in the past or the future, we miss all the little gifts God is handing us right now.

Jesus tells us that if we occupy all our energy looking back with longing or regret, we’re not fit for the kingdom—we’re not “all in” for the incredible adventure that living our faith is. Likewise, Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow. When we spend all our time looking ahead and plotting out all our own “perfect” plans, we’re not putting our trust in the amazing, unimaginable plan God has in store for us, and we’re be overcome with worry when things don’t work out the way we wanted.

Granted, the past and the future are both gifts God has given us. It’s good to look back with gratitude for the ways God has worked in our lives and the lessons we’ve learned, and it’s good to be responsible with the time God has given us by making plans and looking to the future with hope.

But let’s make it a goal to live in the gift of this moment God has given us right now…in the present.

© Isabelle Wood 2025

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