The definition of stress, I’ve heard, is being held responsible for something you can’t control. That surely defines my situation these days at The Company. However, I am very thankful to have a job and to work for my particular boss at The Company. I know I am very blessed with this position and so I do not mean to come across as having a complaining spirit. So many others I know are still out of work, having been laid off for several months or even years. In this crazy busy stressful period at The Company, on days that I work 10-11 hours (which is a lot for someone with FMS) that I am often weary beyond exhaustion. It’s then, above all other times, that I find great comfort in God’s sufficient strength.
One of my favorite passages as far as beautiful word strung together (as only Eugene Peterson can do in The Message )is this one below…this language has come a long way from the KJV “weary and heavy laden”—but the truth is still ever precious:
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."—Matthew 11:28-30, The Message
How very compassionate, merciful and faithful of our God to give us rest. He has every right to make things difficult for me—I am a sinful, prideful human that constantly is failing to make Him the One and Only in every area of my life. YET, He promises to give me rest, and He does. He knows just how much I can handle—and I believe—gives me more than I can handle…ON MY OWN…but NEVER more than He and I can handle TOGETHER.
You know my favorite sentence in the paragraph below? “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” Grace is unforced. I once had grace described to me as allowing the escalator/people mover to carry you the whole way, and not forcing your way up/over. That’s very hard for me to do, especially when I’m in a hurry. But grace is not in a hurry; it is unforced.
So on days like this when I feel like things at The Company are spinning completely out of control, I need to remember to fix my heart on my Jesus. He will help me have a restful spirit, even if, at the time, I can’t physically take a rest. May I learn to take things more lightly, not get so stressed, worried and frustrated, and just allow the unforced rhythms of His grace to transform my weary heart.
Though, for the record, when I ask someone at The Company to give me something by date/time, that’s when I actually need it (not the next day or the day after or the day after that!) I don’t make up these “due dates” for my health, let me tell you!
No comments:
Post a Comment