Summer can bring up so much nostalgia.

For many of us, childhood summers felt endless with long days, warm nights, freedom, play, water, sunshine, and the feeling that time didn’t have a hold on us like it does now. So naturally, as adults, we often try to recreate that same feeling for our kids, our families, and even ourselves.

But somewhere along the way, the search for a carefree summer can become full of pressure when we start trying to do enough, plan enough, play enough, and make enough memories before the season slips away.

And while summer activities are beautiful gifts, they were never meant to become the source of our joy.

That is where many of us end up feeling worn out because we chase fullness through more plans, but still find ourselves wondering why we feel tired, stretched, or like we somehow missed the very season we were trying so hard to enjoy.

What if the most fulfilling summer is not found in doing more but instead in abiding in Jesus more?

In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”

The fruit comes from connection – from abiding.  Peace, joy, renewal, patience, gratitude, and love are not things we have to force in our own strength. They grow as we stay connected to Jesus. That means abiding is not another task to add to your summer to-do list. It is a relationship and is learning to stay close to Jesus in the life you are already living.

It looks like talking to Him on your walk.

Inviting Him into your car ride.

Pausing to thank Him when your child laughs.

Noticing His presence by the water.

Making room for Him in the quiet.

Bringing Him into the ordinary moments, not just the hard ones.

Sometimes we invite Jesus into our struggles but forget He also wants to be with us in the good parts. He is not reserved for Sunday morning, devotionals, or crisis prayers. He is Immanuel, and that means He is God with us.

This summer, I believe you are being invited to stop trying to create fullness apart from Him and start receiving fullness with Him.

Not by doing more or by making summer perfect by chasing every experience…

But by making room for Him and bringing Him with you wherever you go.

Because the most fulfilling summer is not always the fullest calendar, it’s the summer where you become more aware of God with you.

So take Jesus with you into the beach days, the backyard moments, the vacations, the grocery runs, the family chaos, the quiet mornings, and the everyday rhythms.

Let Him be your closest companion, your BFF so to speak…

Let Jesus be the center of all that you do.

And most of all let Him be the source you stay connected to.

And maybe this will be the summer you release the pressure to do it all and grow closer to Jesus in the middle of it all.

Listen to the Full Episode

If this resonated with you, I’d love for you to listen to the full podcast episode:

Episode 18: How to Have a Summer of Overflow: Abiding in Jesus Instead of Chasing More – listen on Spotify

https://crosswindscollab.com/podcasts/

 

Thanks for being here!

LeighAnn Ricci RN, BS, RN-BC

An Invitation

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