(And why it’s way harder—and better—than it sounds)
Ever feel like you’re running on a spiritual treadmill? Praying harder, serving more, chasing that elusive “next level” with God… only to end up breathless and wondering, “Why does faith feel like another item on my to-do list?”
Yeah. Me too.
Which is why this quote from Barbara Brown Taylor stopped me cold this week:
“All we lack is the willingness to imagine we already have everything we need. The only thing missing is our consent to be where we are.”
Consent to be where we are. Sounds simple, right? But in a world screaming, “Optimize! Hustle! Upgrade!”, it feels borderline rebellious.
The Culture We’re Swimming In
Let’s be real:
- Our phones buzz with notifications telling us we’re missing out.
- Sermons sometimes leave us feeling like we’re spiritually “behind”.
- Even self-care can become another performance (#SoftLifeFail).
We’re drowning in what Barbara calls “the great modern heresy: that God is elsewhere.” We think we need quieter retreats, shinier programs, or holier habits to find Him.
But what if God’s been here all along—in your chaotic kitchen, your exhausting commute, your unanswered prayers?
Why “Consenting to the Present” is Radical Faith
This isn’t about apathy. It’s about awakening to the altar beneath your feet. Barbara insists:
“Earth is so thick with divine possibility that it’s a wonder we can walk anywhere without cracking our shins on altars.”
Your “ordinary” moments aren’t filler. They’re the main event where God shows up:
- In your exhaustion? That’s where grace rushes in like a tide.
- In your doubt? That’s holy ground for wrestling.
- In your laundry pile? Yes, seriously—even there.
This isn’t spiritual bypassing. It’s choosing to trust that God meets us in the mess, not after we clean it up.
Try This: Build Your Own “Altar in the World”
Feeling skeptical? Same. Here’s how I’m practicing consent this week (no retreat center required):
1️⃣ The “Sacred Clutter” Pause
Next time you’re overwhelmed:
- Breathe.
- Scan the room.
- Name ONE thing that’s already here as a gift (coffee mug, sunlight, a text from a friend).
- Whisper: “Thank you. This is enough.”
2️⃣ Trade Productivity for Presence
- Delete one app that makes you feel “less than.”
- Spend 10 mins doing nothing but listening to birds or your own breath.
- (If your inner critic freaks out? Barbara says that’s normal: “Anxiety is just excitement without the breath.”)
3️⃣ Bless Your Own Two Feet
Literally. Barbara writes:
“Reverence for the ordinary is the rarest form of worship left to us.”
- After a shower, thank your body for carrying you today.
- While walking, feel the ground holding you up. That’s God’s faithfulness, friends.
When Consent Feels Impossible…
Some days, “being where you are” feels like a cruel joke.
- Chronic pain?
- Grief?
- Injustice?
Barbara gets it. She writes in Learning to Walk in the Dark:
“I have learned things in the dark that I could never have learned in the light. New life starts in the dark.”
God isn’t asking you to like the dark. Just to trust He’s in it with you—and that resurrection blooms in unseen places.
Your Turn
So here’s my challenge for us this week:
What if you stopped searching for the “next” holy thing… and recognized the holy thing already breathing in your lungs?