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If you’re one of the many people who say that you’re doing everything because no one else will, if you’re flirting with burnout but are committed to working unto the Lord, or if you simply want to find a little more peace and presence in your life, keep reading! The truth is, God doesn’t want martyrs. Remaining in health is vital. Keep reading to learn:
- How the majority of mantras about hard work are misguided and only half true
- How to appreciate God-given limitations as gifts, not begrudge them as liabilities
- Why pushing through isn’t good for you or the people you serve
- That most of us don’t need to work any harder. What we really need is to rest better
- 9 things I do to incorporate rest & stillness amid work
Remaining In Health Is So Important
Lately, I’ve had several people ask me if I’m taking care of myself. They’ve either seen me at conferences or have been hanging out with me in The Small Church Academy. They want to know that I’m resting because I seem to be extremely busy. I’m so thankful for your care and your compassion. I feel seen and well-loved, and I am grateful.
I used to push through being busy a lot, and I’m quite good at it. Lately, though, I’m in a space of yielding, stillness, and rest. The more I work with people in small churches, the more compelled I feel to share my journey in this area. A lot of you, like me, probably need to stop a few things, and get a few other things in line.
Whether you’re overly responsible, feel driven to growth and learning, or are determined to do your best for God, this is a lesson we all need if we want to make the biggest impact in a way that draws others to Jesus!
If you’re one of the few people who’s already a pro at remaining In health, please follow along too! It’s good to remember what many people at your church are experiencing. There is a sudden push for business and productivity that people are very attuned to, and it’s honestly not healthy! Hopefully, you can share the good news here about how to live and work with more freedom and joy, as well as peace and presence!
A Lean Towards Compartmentalization
Most people practice compartmentalization. Most of us were taught this, and it’s often how we measure success, set goals, and even schedule our time. However, when it comes to Jesus’ work and our spiritual selves, it’s not healthy, nor is it what God desires.
What would you consider your holiest activities of the week? Most Christians that were surveyed would say it was worship, prayer, or serving in the community. What about your day job? The Bible says that our lives are holy, every piece of them. Every moment is holy as we continually remain connected, abiding with the Father.
There should be no separation in our lives either. I’m in God’s presence at church, and I still am in His presence when I’m not. Planning your next church event is no more holy than going to the grocery store. He’s guiding me, teaching me, and drawing me to Him in every step!
We long for transformation instead of simply learning skills that leave you feeling unsatisfied. We want to experience peace, an unwavering sense of purpose, and the deep fulfillment that only comes when you know you are joining the Father at work. To do that, the inner stuff has to be a part of the picture!
The Reality Of Burnout And Exhaustion
When we over-prioritize work and under-prioritize rest, we are depleting our ability to make wise choices. Have you ever noticed that when you’re tired and you haven’t respected your God-given limits, you are short with the people you love? When you are overworking yourself, you’re exhausted, or not choosing health, you aren’t displaying the fruits of the spirit. The fruits of the spirit are a direct result of our choices! We choose to love people, we choose to show kindness and to be gentle. We don’t just arrive in this state or do it naturally.
If we slow down, rest, and dwell on Him, we increase our capacity to intentionally choose. We need to stop reacting out of our exhaustion, overwhelm, disappointment, and even our fears. Instead, we should start responding out of fullness.
Please remember that your work doesn’t matter as much as your being. Your health shows up in the fruits of your character, of your being, and your relationships, not in the size of your building, the numbers, or your outward success. This is biblical! God did not say “If you build it, they will come” or “if you do it right you will have outward success.” He said “If you remain in me, I will remain in you. If you abide in me, I will abide in you.”
9 Things I Do To Remain In Health
1. I schedule my time each week (including things for my health).
I block out time for walking with friends. I block out days off. I slim down my commitments at the beginning of every week, and I choose fewer priorities than I want. I still have too many, but I’m working on it!
2. I plan vacations, time off, and time away.
I make sure that I have a full day off a week, an extra day of silence each week, a weekend off a quarter, and a few different weeks throughout the year! I’m even highly considering a real sabbatical in 2023 to take a few months of rest and renewal in the Lord.
3. I belong to a group with a coach and a focused community.
I pay for a membership to do this, but it is worth 10 times my investment. This is a group of women I am hoping to know, glean from, and grow in priority!
4. I go to a counselor regularly.
I have done this for many years, and sometimes it’s weekly and sometimes it’s monthly. I do deep inner work on myself, my hurts, my reactions, and my responses. I don’t consider this optional or a luxury thing, this is a necessity for me.
5. I seek out people who are farther along than I am for teaching and wisdom.
Whether I speak to them in person, I listen to podcasts, or read books, I am learning from these people and connecting with them.
6. When I become aware of too much stress, I no longer push through.
This is a huge shift for me. I pull back into stillness! I’m learning that overwhelm isn’t conquered by working harder, it’s conquered through clarity. I used to try to find clarity in solutions, planning, or figuring things out. However, the more overwhelmed I am, the more stillness I realize I need.
7. I’m trying to do things slowly.
Sometimes I ask myself, “How can I do this slowly?” This has to do with a commitment to eliminate the rush in my life. Over the last few years, I became aware of how often I rushed. Now, I’m learning to stop, and enjoy the moments!
8. I try to do things one at a time.
Fight the urge to multitask! My puppy has helped me with this, well, demanded it actually. Occasionally, I still try to work while I’m throwing his ball! However, I learned pretty quickly that I can either be frustrated and angry that this fluff ball is interrupting my work, OR I can close my computer and embrace the gift of a pouncing puppy and experience joy, laughter, and love!
9. Breathe deeply, and remind myself to be present.
When all else fails, or even when all is going well, I breathe deeply and connect with where I am physically and with God. In these moments, I find myself occasionally yielding to some inspiration that was not part of my pre-planned schedule. Is this part of listening to the Spirit? It might be!
Balancing Work And Rest While Remaining In Health
When you are pulling back into stillness and prioritizing rest, in my experience, you won’t be taking away from your church ministry! I actually think your programs and ministry will go better! Your ministry will be more focused and intentional. Instead of doing more things, you’ll start purposefully seeing more impact from the things you are already doing. Instead of trying so many different things that end up not working, you may become inspired in a true, God-led direction, and see things fall into place in a new way.
There is a balance of work and rest. I’m not saying to stop doing things, rather, when you find yourself frustrated or thinking “I’d rather burn out for god, and push through for God”, just ask yourself if you think you are actually working for God. Because, that isn’t what God wants, and it’s not what He created you to do.
Let God Be the Wind and the Waves
One of the very first things I wrote for the Small Church Ministry website was about burnout and doing too much. It’s an analogy about the difference between sailing and running, it’s about the wind and the waves. This illustration is so important to me, and I want to share this reminder with you.
The Sailor
People who sail love the feeling of being on the water, of being carried by the waves. Imagine a woman or a man sitting in a sailboat, reclining a little. Maybe her perfectly layered hair blows in the breeze. Her head tilts just a little, angling her face toward the rays of the Sun. As she sits, the boat steadily heads to its destination, powered by the wind and the waves alone.
The Runner
Now picture the same person crossing the finish line of a marathon. Instead of navy stripes, your runner has an outfit with a number pinned on the front. While displaying amazing strength, she finishes the race as her legs buckle and shake in effort and accomplishment. Her mental and physical toughness pushes her through each obstacle and every breath.
The Lesson of the Sailor and the Runner
Both the Sailor and the Runner get to their destination. Both are diligent and skilled. They learn their craft, work hard, and persevere. The difference is, that the Runner earned the prize through her effort. She carried herself across the finish line. She’s the one who trained. It’s her discipline, her sweat, and her power. No one else takes the credit, and no one else shares the glory.
Sailing also takes skill and discipline, it’s not a job for the lazy, but the power of the boat! That’s up to the wind and the waves. Sailing cannot happen without them! While the Sailor cares for the boat, sets the sails, turns the rudder, and tacks and jibes, the power isn’t hers to muster. Though she may set the direction and influence the speed, nothing happens without the wind and the waves.
The Runner and the Sailor illustrate the difference between hollow trying and fruitful faithfulness. God wants to be the Wind and the Waves, and He wants us to sail! He doesn’t need our sweat or effort, He wants our trust.
Our Call As Human Beings
Our call as human beings has always been to rely on Him. Of course, we are called to diligence, but humility demands that we embrace the smallness of our own power. Our effectiveness as disciples lies not in our trying, but in our willingness to follow His voice, believe His word, and trust His ability. The storms come and the Sun shines. The waves pick up, calm down, and get violent again, with no regard for our wishes, our will, or our strength. However, through it all, the Sailor knows that her task is to watch, learn, adjust, enjoy, and trust.
Will you allow God to be the Wind and the Waves in your ministry and in your life? Can you learn to join Him more and fight less against His current? I am praying that more and more, you choose to tilt your head back in the rays of the Sun and acknowledge your smallness in the wake of His power.
Read More:
Dropping The Burden: Rest As A Gift
