Spiritual Direction: Holding Purpose and Presence Together

God is not in a hurry. That was the message of Advent—that God entered our world through humility, proximity, and presence. He slowed down to be with us. And that same truth shapes how we follow Him today.

In Acts 20, Paul is on his way to Jerusalem. He knows the Holy Spirit is leading him there, even though he doesn't know exactly what awaits. But along the way, he doesn't just rush to the destination—he stops, he invests, he lingers with the people God has placed in his path.

Spiritual Direction: Purpose + Presence

Here's the big idea: Spiritual direction holds God's purposes (the destination) and His presence (the journey) together in perfect balance.

Paul moved with intention—he had a clear sense of where God was leading. But he also stayed attentive to what God was doing along the way. He didn't treat the journey as a necessary inconvenience. He treated it as part of the process.

Moving with Intention, Staying Attentive

Acts 20:6-7 says Paul stopped in Troas and stayed seven days—longer than necessary. He invested in the people there, sharing meals, teaching, listening. He didn't rush past them to get to the "real work." He recognized that being with them was the real work.

Jesus modeled this perfectly. Luke 9:51 says He "resolutely set out for Jerusalem." He had a clear destination. But along the way, He stopped at Mary and Martha's home, climbed a tree to eat with Zacchaeus, healed ten with leprosy, gave Bartimaeus his sight. He moved with purpose, but He stayed present.

The Resurrection of Eutychus

During Paul's teaching in Troas, a young man named Eutychus fell asleep in a window, fell three stories, and died. Paul embraced him and he was restored to life. Miracle! But then notice what happens next: they go back upstairs, break bread, and continue conversation until morning.

The emphasis isn't just on the miracle—it's on the ordinary life that continues after it. Resurrection power doesn't pull us out of everyday life—it redeems it. In God's Kingdom, power doesn't create hierarchy; it draws us deeper into relationship.

This Week, Try This

1. Move with intention. Where is God leading you right now? What's the next step He's calling you to take? Write it down and commit to moving forward this week.
2. Stay attentive. As you move toward that destination, pay attention to who God puts in your path. Don't rush past people to get to the "important stuff." They are the important stuff.
3. Practice pausing. This week, intentionally slow down. Linger in a conversation. Share a meal with someone. Be fully present. Trust that God is at work in the ordinary moments.

Purpose and Presence Together

God isn't waiting for you at the end of the journey—He's walking with you now, forming you now, at work in the in-between spaces of your life.

At Indy Metro, we're learning what it means to hold spiritual direction—moving forward with purpose while staying present to what God is doing right now. We're committed to being known by each other and faithfully present in our everyday spaces.

Come walk with us. If you're looking for a church that values both intentionality and presence, we'd love to have you join us this Sunday. Come as you are. Let's learn together what it means to follow Jesus with purpose and presence.