I started exploring this in the post, The One Thing Needed, where we looked at why sitting at Jesus’ feet changes everything. But let’s be honest: actually doing it is much harder than talking about it. What does "sitting at His feet" actually look like in the messy, loud, or exhausting seasons we actually live in?
We live in a world where being busy is a badge of honour and hustle is celebrated. You only have to scroll through social media for thirty seconds to see a "5-to-9 before the 9-to-5" reel. You know the ones: perfect lighting, a steaming matcha latte, and a colour-coded Bible study that looks like a work of art.
I’ll admit it, sometimes I watch those reels and then look at my own morning. I’ve managed to shower, get dressed, and collapse at my desk just in time to start work. My journals aren't pretty, and my Bible has barely been opened. In those moments, I don't feel holy; I just feel behind.
If you’ve ever felt like your spiritual life doesn't look right compared to others, you are not alone.
The Thief in the Room
Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” But for the believer, comparison is also a thief of purpose. When we are busy measuring our real life against someone else’s "highlight reel," we miss what God is doing right in front of us.
Paul addresses this head on in his letter to the Corinthians. He doesn’t mince words:
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” — 2 Corinthians 10:12
It is "not wise" to use another person’s life as the ruler for your own. Why? Because God hasn’t called you to live their life; He has called you to a "sphere of service" (v. 13) that is uniquely yours.
One Body, Many Rhythms
If we all had the same 5:00 AM prayer routine and the same pretty journals, the Church would be a very one-dimensional place. In Romans 12:4-8, Paul reminds us that we are one body with many members, and none of us has the same function.
- The person with the perfect quiet time might be in a season of study and teaching, or they may also be in a time where they have more free time for whatever reason.
- The person barely opening their Bible or struggling to spend time alone with God, might be in a season of intense work, have caregiving responsibilities, or struggling with illnesses.
We have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If your gift today is simply to show mercy or to lead your family diligently, that is your worship. Sitting at Jesus’ feet looks different when you’re a nursing mother than it does when you’re a retired missionary. Both are holy. Both are seen. Both are valid.
Honouring the Season You’re Actually In
The hardest part of following Jesus isn’t usually a lack of desire; it’s the shift in seasons in our lives. We often try to force a "spring" rhythm into a "winter" life.
We look back at our younger selves with a hint of grief. Maybe you remember a time when you had hours of free time and fewer responsibilities. Now, you have a job, a mortgage, or people who depend on you for their literal survival. Your time for yourself has shrunk, and you feel guilty that your time for God feels different, too.
But God is the Author of seasons. Ecclesiastes 3 tells us there is a time for everything. Sometimes the shift in our spiritual rhythm happens slowly, like the fading light of autumn. Other times, it’s abrupt, a new job, a loss, or a sudden health crisis, and we aren't prepared for the change.
In every season, the goal remains the same: Connection with God, not Perfection.
Sitting at Jesus’ feet in a season of "doing" might look like a whispered prayer while you wash dishes. Sitting at His feet in a season of "waiting" might look like a tearful silence.
To discern what your soul needs today, you don't need a viral video or a perfect desk. You just need to show up as you are.
Reflect and Respond
Take a breath and look at your life today, not the life you had five years ago, and not the life of the person you follow on Instagram.
- What season are you in right now?
- How can you let go of "how it used to look" to embrace how God wants to meet you today?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Whether you are in a season of quiet rest or high-speed service, how are you finding small ways to sit at His feet this week?
And if there is anything you would like me to pray for you, then please drop me a message.
Journal Prompts
Grab a notebook (it doesn't have to be a pretty one!) and spend five minutes with these questions:
- The Comparison Audit: When I scroll through social media or look at others in my church, what specific spiritual standard am I holding myself to that God hasn't actually asked of me?
- The Season Name: If you had to give your current life season a name (e.g., The Season of Tending, The Season of Endurance, The Season of Quiet Waiting), what would it be? How does that name change your expectations of yourself?
- The Former Self Grief: What is one spiritual habit you used to have that you can no longer maintain? Instead of feeling guilty, try thanking God for that past season and asking Him, "How do You want to meet me in my current reality?"
Pick one Micro-Action to try this week to prioritise connection over perfection:
- The Red Light Prayer: If your schedule is too packed for an hour of study, choose a recurring moment in your day (waiting for the kettle to boil, sitting at a red light, or washing your hands) to simply say, "Jesus, I am here, and I know You are here with me."
- The Digital Fast: Unfollow or mute one social media account that consistently makes you feel behind or not enough in your walk with God. Replace that scrolling time with two minutes of silence.
- The Open Bible Strategy: Instead of worrying about a deep-dive study, leave your Bible open on your kitchen counter or desk to a single verse (like Psalm 46:10 or Matthew 11:28). Read that one verse every time you walk past it.