Ever feel exhausted, overwhelmed, overworked?
Like you just want to throw in the towel and be done? Done with the work, done with the kids, done with shopping, done with people.
If we are honest with ourselves, if you are anything like me, you are probably carrying too much and your plate is way too full. And sometimes we carry our workload as a badge of honor, like the more we do, the busier we are, the more spiritual we tend to feel. Until we don’t. Until we feel overwhelmed, but then we have set a precedent and feel like this is just what I need to do to sustain the job, the relationship, the ministry.
The first prideful mistake we make in those feelings is that this work is ours, that without us and the work we put in, it will fail.
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24
So, we have to put our pride in check and acknowledge first and foremost that our life, our work, this ministry is Christ’s and that in spite of how great you are God can do amazing things in and through the next person.
To combat those feelings we need to acknowledge that we are not alone.
First, we have Christ with us and we can rely on His strength and His power.
Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:20
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Mary talked about it this weekend Psalm 37:3, “Trust in the Lord, and do good.” So we do our best but we rest in, we trust in, and we rely on Christ.
Pastor Kevin says this all the time, Plan like it all depends on you and pray like it all depends on the Lord because it does. But, I’d like to add, work together as if it could only be accomplished as a team.
You see God has given us His people to carry out His purpose.
Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:15-16
We are meant to come together and carry the burdens for one another. God has uniquely created each of us with different skills and talents so that together we are so much better than alone. There are people in your family, your job, your ministry team, your LifeGroup that have the skills, talents, and desire to help carry some of the load. But you have to take the step to ask for help, they can’t read your mind, no matter how much you wish they would.
So, if you are feeling like this is a lot (which it is) but you are feeling overburdened, overwhelmed, exhausted; you need to do something different.
First and foremost, take a look in the mirror and determine if your heart is in the right place. Are you too prideful? Do you feel like it all rests on your shoulders, like you are the only one that can swoop in and save the day? Let go of that thought, reject it like it is from Satan, because it probably is.
Maybe you are doing too much, and you need to say no to some things. Maybe it is time to let some other people step up and carry some of the load.
Maybe, you just need to swallow your pride and ask for some help. Gather some people to come alongside you and help take some of the weight off your shoulders.
The truth is, life is tough. And we were not meant to do it alone. And you don’t have to. The simple truth is that we are better together!
My prayer is that you are connected with your church and that you have a strong support system through your ministry team or your LifeGroup or a study that you are a part of. I pray that if you are trying to do this alone, that you plug into the biggest resource that Christ has given us (aside from His Spirit) and that is His church.