The Space Before I Respond

Learning to pause when the day doesn’t go as planned

Some days don’t go according to plan-photo by Bonnie S. Heisse.

Today started like most days.

My body woke me up at 4:30 a.m. I didn’t fight it. I got up, knowing I was traveling today and wanting to get a few things done before I left.

I thrive on structure and guidelines. I can do spontaneity, but not very well. Being task-oriented, structure helps me stay organized and steady. I’m not a big fan of surprises. Maybe that’s why I do better on consistent days than on days when things are thrown at me.

I don’t love change either; as I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown even less so. There are benefits to being predictable. You get more accomplished with a plan. Sometimes I wish life worked the same way.

But it doesn’t.

Life throws curveballs. Bumps show up without warning and can derail a day quickly. An unexpected request from Dad. A delayed departure time. A morning that suddenly isn’t mine anymore. I’ve learned that what matters most isn’t avoiding them—it’s how I react and recover.

I like to say I respond with grace and patience every time that I turn to God right away.

But honestly, I don’t.

What I am getting better at is pausing and taking a breath, stopping long enough to assess before I react. Asking myself a simple question: Is this a God opportunity?

That short pause usually grounds me. It pulls me out of the overwhelm and quiets the anxiety enough to respond instead of react. Sometimes it simply helps me put the interruption in perspective. I don’t always get it right, but slowing down has changed more than I expected.

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” — James 1:19

I’m learning that the pause matters. It doesn’t remove the problem, but it changes my posture inside it. And more often than not, that’s where steadiness begins.

🌿 One Dreams Writing — Faith-filled reflections for life’s everyday turning points.