Keep Connecting – Are You Tethered to Your Person, or Person? 

By Jenna Dexter 

As I loaded my keyboard into the back of my Mini Cooper and took off for the next thing in my crazy hectic week, I took a moment to mentally pause, draw in a deep breath, and chat with God. 

Because He’s my person. 

He’s my calm in the storm, my peace in the busyness. He’s my source of strength when I’m feeling weak, frazzled, and at risk of losing my mind. 

In general, I’m a fan of creating space, setting boundaries, and living a life that does not involve moving from one commitment to the next with no time to spare. But this turned into a particularly jam-packed week. I was already scheduled to help with worship at a church an hour away, which meant preparing for a Wednesday night rehearsal and two Sunday morning services. But I was also asked, last minute, to lead a 40-minute set at my own church on Saturday night. 

On top of all that, my coaching business and several other activities created an especially crammed week of “doing”. Going from one thing to the next to the next. 

I know you’ve been there. Perhaps you are right now. 

But lucky for me, I had already become increasingly intentional about my connection with God. In every detail of my life, throughout my day, I had been talking to Him about what my next step is and running into His presence for the incredible peace and bliss that only He can give. 

I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8 NLT). 

So as I drove down the road that day, with no other activity stealing mental space, I seized the moment to connect with God. I invited Him into my circumstances, asked Him for strength and energy to do everything that needed to be done, and to help me mentally stay on top of the most important things. 

Tethered to God, like a toddler to her “person” – And I suddenly had an image of my darling 2-year-old granddaughter, Claire. Whenever she was in a public place and began to wander, it was never long before she’d realize her “person” was uncomfortably far away. Immediately, she’d come running back, clinging to the leg of Mama, Daddy, or Nenna (that’s me!). 

She was “tethered”, you might say, by an invisible string that only allowed her to wander so far without recognizing the need to fully reconnect with her source of safety, love, peace, guidance, and provision. 

It made me smile to think of myself like my little Claire Bear, wandering into the bustling world, but never wandering too far without recognizing the need to fully reconnect with my source of safety, love, peace, guidance and provision. My “Person”. 

The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe  (Proverbs 18:10 NLT). 

King David stayed tethered – King David loved running into the presence of the Lord. In Psalm 16, he writes: 

Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. I said to the LORD, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you” (vs. 1-2 NLT). 

I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety (vs. 7-9 NLT). 

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever (v. 11 NLT). 

If you think your life is stressful, imagine the pressures of ruling a country, riding into battles, and being hunted for 13 years. How did David do it? He stayed tethered to his Person. 

Are you tethered to God in this season of your life? – Are you intentional about making time and space for Him, inviting Him into your circumstances, and finding even five minutes in the car to reconnect with Him? 

Perhaps, like my story, you aren’t extra busy. You’re extra anxious, fearful, or sad because of the circumstances of your life. You could be battling an illness or struggling to survive a difficult marriage. Your days might be spent at your child’s hospital bedside praying for a miracle. 

These circumstances create all the more reason to stay tethered to the presence of the Lord, to the peace that passes understanding that only He can provide. 

I felt that peace when my dad was in hospice and when he passed. Because I sought it continually. The Lord was faithful to uphold me and my family by His right hand. He provided what I call “God hugs” in the midst of a very painful time, and looking back at it over a year later, the warm memories of that season suppress the sad ones. 

Only God can do that. 

But it is our choice to intentionally connect with Him and create an atmosphere where He can prove His faithfulness. It is our choice to feed on the promises in His Word, invite Him into our circumstances and experience the presence of the Lord in everything we do. He is always there. He is always fully accessible. And He is always longing for you to run into His arms. 

Are you tethered to God like a toddler to her “person”? 

Jenna Dexter is a speaker and Christian Life Coach for Women. Through 1:1 Coaching, she helps women find clarity, shine in calling, overcome mental hang-ups, unleash confidence, and believe in possibility. Her membership community, Total Thrive Women, empowers Christian women to achieve Personal, Spiritual & Professional results through Group Coaching, Community Forum, and Personal Development Trainings. Learn more at TotalThrive.com and find links to her Podcast & YouTube channel.