Full-time job, family obligations, holiday planning, trying to make plans with friends, clean the house, wash the dog, go to doctor appointments, serve at church… It seems the list never ends. I don’t have children but I know once you throw them in the mix life gets even crazier. It feels like I need to keep up with all of those things, plus a laundry list of other things and then the literal laundry. How am I also supposed to be joyful and find time to rest with all of this going on? It seems impossible. There are only so many hours in the day and there’s only so much energy I have to get everything done.
But what if it's not up to us to do it all? What if we believe that God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will?
Let’s look at some of His promises:
- Deuteronomy 31:6 - “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- Jeremiah 29:11 - “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
- Isaiah 41:10 - “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
- Matthew 11:28 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
- Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
- Isaiah 40:31 - “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
- Isaiah 43:2 - “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:20 - “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him, the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”
This is an incredibly short list of promises we have from the Lord who will sustain us. However, in all of these verses, do you see anywhere that there is a caveat calling us to work until we can’t anymore and then He will sustain us? No. Because that is not what the Lord has asked of us. We have decided that we must do it all, though the Lord never asked us to. But He did promise to be with us, never leaving or forsaking us. Our world is fast-paced and teaches us that if we are not working until we can’t anymore that we are doing something wrong. This message from the world is never given in the Bible.
God is on our side. He is with us always. These are truths we can rest in and as believers they are blessings we receive, not things we have to work for. Hebrews 10:22-23 says, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Let me reiterate: For He who promised is faithful. Take a moment and add emphasis to the different words in that verse. My favorite emphasis to add reads: For He who promised IS faithful. Hallelujah! The almighty God of the universe has promised us great things, and because He is faithful we can believe and trust that He will keep His word!
And His word does not tell us to work ourselves to death but rather to rest in Him, trust in Him, abide in Him, etc.
If we believe that God is faithful, then why don’t we follow His commands to rest and to do everything for His glory? We make up all kinds of excuses about how we are too busy, and once we finish the busyness we are so tired we can’t do anything. But, if God has given us commands and promises to keep up His end of the deal, shouldn’t we trust that He will give us all we need to follow His commands?
So often we allow ourselves to believe that everything hinges on us doing everything. We put all the power and ability in our hands rather than rest in God’s great strength. We have skewed in our minds what He calls us to, and we live like He is not capable of getting things done the way that we are. But my friend, let me encourage and remind you, He is capable of more than all that we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)!
Take a deep breath and give it all to the Lord. You are not the giver or sustainer of life. And that is good news! Our great God can handle every single detail of your life and He simply calls you to surrender yourself to Him. We should work diligently to what God has called us to, but remember that it is not all up to us. Take delight and find rest in this truth today. Though it is easier said than done to put it all in God’s hands, it will breathe new life into your lungs and help to sustain you.