What Happens When We Stop Chasing and Start Being?
“Mark, every sermon feels like a debt that was paid. The work was complete. But I am not feeling the way I felt before.”
I remember writing that; the moment is still as vivid as I can fathom one being.
The church was growing. Our influence was expanding. My calendar was full. But I was bone dry.
I had built around purpose: goals, vision, metrics, outcomes; mind you, in and of themselves, these aren’t bad things! People coming to Christ, facilities over capacity, services running with excellence.
I believed that if I pursued purpose with enough clarity, presence would show up as a reward. Instead, presence slipped through my fingers.
The Problem with “Purpose First, Presence Later”
Purpose gives us direction. It keeps us accountable. But it becomes dangerous when it drives us instead of serving us.
We start measuring value by what we achieve instead of who we are becoming. We hustle toward “impact” and treat presence as optional. We miss moments at home, in prayer, and in rest because purpose whispers, there’s more to do.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Stillness is not laziness. It is identity work. Presence must come before purpose or purpose becomes an idol.
What Presence Looks Like
Prayer that isn’t always asking. Sometimes I just sit with God instead of presenting a list. Presence shows up in peace.
Listening before planning. Slowing down to hear God, my wife, and my kids before mapping strategies.
Showing up where nothing is achieved. Being at the dinner table or at bedtime, not as a pastor but as a dad.
Resting without guilt. Sabbath is not time to recover for more work. It is worship and renewal.
Making the Shift
Make margin. I can’t say this with deeper conviction. The Biblical principle of Sabbath reminds us that God can do more with 6 than we can do in 7. Live that without compromise and guard it like life itself depends on it.
Name what you believe about purpose. Ask God which goals are purposed for you, faithful to what He’s called you to, and in that, work to discover which are crushing you.
Anchor presence into daily life. Prayer is much easier to talk about that to sit inside of. Discover and implement rhythms that trigger this habit; walks, gratitude journaling, and instrumental music initiate this for me and none are tied to sermon prep.
Stop trying to earn presence by doing. More on this in another post but brother, I’m pleading here, please hear me… presence is given to you as a son, not earned by ministry, KPI’s, nor degrees.
The Last 10%
So here we are. Brother, are you driven by purpose? Has it’s inevitable drip led to you dry and anguishing for presence? When the day ends, do you feel peace or… just more pressure?
Know the cost here…
If you do not change, you could reach the end with influence and accomplishments yet a heart that is so unaccustomed to His voice, nearness, and Fatherly love that you risk leading all those who follow you to the same end. Presence must lead the way! Purpose will follow with power when it flows from our position before the Father accomplished by our greater Brother who is even now at the right hand, appealing for us!
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1–3
Live as if His presence is the prize. Let purpose serve presence, not replace it.
