It Takes A Moment

Learn to Slow Down & Be Mindful

There’s a cruel irony in life that doesn’t get talked about enough: it takes just a single moment - a lapse in judgement, a careless decision, an outburst of frustration, a swell of pride, a surrender to lust - to shake or destroy a foundation that took years of consistency and sacrifice to build.

When we think about the monuments of our lives, such as our careers, our ministries, our relationships, our reputations, our inner peace, our savings, or even our standing in our communities, none of these were built overnight. They’re the result of God’s favour and countless, conscious, positive choices made over long periods.

It’s pretty humbling knowing that we could spend years building trust with someone, and it takes a single moment to shatter it. We could spend decades cultivating character and credibility, only to jeopardise it in one reckless action, one outburst, or a single lapse of judgement.

I often think about Moses. After all his obedience, sacrifice, leadership, and courage, it was a moment of frustration that cost him entry into the promised land.

Numbers 20:7-8, 11-12 (NIV)

‘and the Lord said to Moses, “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.”’

‘Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”’

We can sit here and debate whether he deserved not to see the promised land or whether it was “unfair”, but the truth remains: it took a moment for him to be denied what he had dedicated his life to.

…and the same is true for us.

We can debate whether acting out of emotion is “understandable,” whether people should forgive us, whether life should work the way we believe it should, but again, the truth remains: it takes a moment.

It takes consistent effort to build a marriage, a friendship, a career, a reputation, but it takes one careless word, one impulsive decision, one unfiltered emotional reaction to put them all at risk. Think about the last time you reacted before thinking; in that moment, were you truly aware of what you could lose?

Maybe you sent a text in anger.
Made a comment out of frustration.
Passed quick, harsh judgment.
Or maybe you acted recklessly because adrenaline felt good.

When the dust settled, can you really say you were thinking about the bigger picture?

I’d like to believe we’re not inherently bad people, but we are flawed humans, and sadly, our worst moments often define us, and we let them. We focus on winning arguments rather than preserving relationships. We choose temporary satisfaction at the expense of our long-term peace.

We prioritise the immediacy of our emotions over the integrity of our values.

Just like Moses felt frustration towards the Israelites, we also experience strong emotions and feelings of stress, overwhelm, and tiredness, which cause us to prioritise the immediate expression of those feelings over the more important bigger picture.

But we need to remember that this comes at a price. There’s always a consequence, whether we like it or not. I don’t say this to scare or threaten, but as a reminder to be conscious and mindful. To always have an eye on the bigger picture.

Slow down, all the way down, and consider the consequences. Every “moment” is a seed, and every “now” is an investment into the future and simultaneously a potential inflection point - the point at which direction completely changes. It can build or destroy.

The bigger picture is far too valuable to sacrifice to a fleeting, unguarded, thoughtless moment.

As always, make a decision that future you will be grateful for.

Have a great week!

CT