Free or Frazzled?

Have you ever been excited about a ministry opportunity, and then you just… weren’t? Let me ‘splain.

The other day I made a meal for someone, and I was really excited to do it. I love cooking, and I love helping other people. My main love language is acts of service, so being part of a meal train is right up my alley.

Let’s just say that several unexpected things conspired to make this joyful opportunity to serve my church family become a trial.

Honestly, I just wanted to deliver this meal, stop at the grocery store quickly, and get home. I had already worked all day, my husband was out of town, and I still had a list of responsibilities to finish when I made it back home. Not to mention make dinner for my own family.

I signed up to provide this meal several days prior when I was having a good day at work and saw the need come in. I love the family that needed meals and had prayed for them. So what in the world was my problem?

Me. I’m my problem. Hello, have we met?

How many times have I started off serving the Lord excited to see what God will do, and then over time let the routine trials of life dampen that feeling?

I get it: things happen and life gets complicated. But my default response should not be discontent and crankiness about fulfilling commitments I have made to God. I need to think through the entirety of a commitment (ministry or otherwise) before I say yes. Just because I have free time in my schedule does not mean God wants me to fill it.

It’s not good to overload myself in a moment of excitement and then get frustrated when the time comes to actually fulfill my commitment.

Perhaps my pride was engaged when I was asked, and I said yes because “Oh, they NEED me. No one else can fill this role.”

Turns out, I can talk myself into pretty much anything.

If I’m not careful, and I ignore the warning signs that I’m getting overwhelmed, that feeling of resentment will also spill over into other my commitments, such as raising my kids and loving my husband. Before I know it, everyone and everything gets on my nerves and I just want to be left alone, for like, the next zillion years.

But just because things get hard doesn’t mean it’s time to throw in the towel, either. So how do I know the difference?

The answer lies in my relationship with God. If I’m so busy “doing ministry things” or “serving the Lord”, that I never have that quiet time alone with God, or I’m not even praying about or for the things I’m doing to serve Him, then it’s definitely time to pare back.

Jesus promised me an abundant life- IN HIM. I can’t receive that from Him if I never sit still. I have to learn to say no to good things so I have time for the best things. (Time with Jesus is the best thing, fyi.) It really is okay for Christians to say no, btw.

Jesus also wants us to spend time bringing our burdens to Him so He can help shoulder the load. Spending time in His presence is where I gain peace and perspective. Hashing things out with God in prayer helps me feel settled and secure. Reading His Word helps guide my days and renews my mind.

I am not called to live frazzled- I am called to live free in Christ. Taking stock of my life regularly is a great way to tell if I’m within the will of God.

As I once heard from someone wise: I can’t do the work of the Lord without the Lord of the work.

Psalm 100:2
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Matthew 11:28-30
(28) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
(30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Colossians 1:10-11
(10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
(11)Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Ephesians 3:16-19
(16) That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
(17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
[18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;(19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.