I’m thinking about a conversation I had the other day with someone I know. In the business realm of my life, this person has been a mentor to me in many ways over the past several years. But, as I had this conversation with him, I realized, maybe God didn’t put me in this person’s life to be influenced BY him, but, rather, to be an influence TO him. While this person has a great wealth of business knowledge, he seems to be lacking the most basic elements necessary for him to obtain a more fulfilling, joy-filled life. Don’t get me wrong, he has a good life – beautiful wife, nice house, good neighborhood, kids, etc. – but he’s just missing the mark of having a GREAT life.
I don’t assume to fully know his relationship with the Lord, but it is safe for me to say that he seems to lean more heavily upon his own understanding than he does trusting God to handle things. This is a person who has always been such an easy-going, happy-go-lucky kind of person, but now, something has gone awry within him, and he is like this giant ball of stress that is slowly winding, bigger and bigger, until it is ready to overtake him completely.
Our conversation included a question that had been posed to my coworkers about their jobs: “What is it that keeps you up at night?”
My immediate response to that question was to laugh. I said, “There is nothing at this company that keeps me up at night. When I leave this place for the day, I leave it all at work. I don’t drag this crap home with me!”
He seemed a little taken-aback by my response, but then he remembered who he was talking to and he laughed, “I wish I could do that!”
I immediately felt a sharp pang of sadness for him, and I could see, in my mind’s eye, a giant table being turned. It was no longer time for me to draw wisdom from him, but, rather, it is now time for me to impart the wisdom that I have blessed with. (Of course, the picture in my head was like a master Jedi promoting his young pad wan learner as the student became the teacher. lol. Sorry. There’s a little too much sci-fi that plays on my television at home!)
So I’m thinking about all the stuff that helps me NOT stress out and I believe I’ve boiled it all down to one thing – I completely and totally trust in the Lord. He orders my steps and He will come against my enemies. He will never leave me, nor forsake me. And if God is for me, then, tell me, who can stand against me?
It is THIS kind of confidence that allows me to rest peacefully at night.
Psalm 91:14 –
“Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My Name.”Proverbs 3:25-26 –
“Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”Psalm 138:8 –
“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.”2 Samuel 22:33 –
“God is my strength and power: and He maketh my way perfect.”
I am not fearful of the economy. The outcome of my life is not determined by the things of this world. My success or failure lies in the hands of the Lord. As long as I am faithful to Him, as long as I live a life that is pleasing to Him, as long as I live a life of integrity because I know I’m a reflection of Him, as long as I cast my cares upon Him, I know I’m going to be alright.
Yes, sometimes, the devil will rise against us. Sometimes, life is hard. But we are to rejoice in taking up the cross and sharing in the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. We are to endure difficulties and ride out the storms of life with the revelation knowledge that joy does not come from our circumstances, but it comes from a deep, bubbling well within us that can only come from the Lord. Especially in the face of adversity, we are to praise the Lord for all His goodness and mercy. God’s grace is no less sufficient for our needs in times of trouble than it is in times of abundance. If anything, we get an increase of his goodness in the dark days of our lives.
I am not lying awake at night, wondering if I’ll have a job tomorrow. I’m thanking God, before I fall into a peaceful night’s sleep, that that HE is Jehovah Jirah, my provider, and that the fullness of my life’s purpose is not wrapped up in the four walls of an office building. There are people to serve, and there are lost souls who need help finding the living water that will bring refreshment to their dried up souls. I don’t have time to lie awake at night worrying about a company that was here before I was born and will go on long after I’m gone. I need my rest so that I have the energy to encourage people who don’t know how to find peace in this tumultuous world. It’s not through your paychecks, people. It’s can only be found through a close, vibrant, fire-filled relationship with the Lord God Almighty.
I do the best job I can at work, but if my best isn’t good enough, well, I can’t do much about that. I can go along with the business plans, take classes when necessary to help me learn, even work on my short-comings, but, at the end of the day, if my best is still not good enough, then this is not where I am meant to be. I don’t slack. I’m sensitive to time constraints. I can prioritize with the best of them. But I am NOT willing to give up my health and my family for a job.
Ultimately, I am a number to most people at work. I have friends that are close enough, they feel like family. But, to most, I am a body who can provide a service. I am replaceable. When I’m dead, someone else will fill this chair and provide the service that I’m currently responsible for. But when I’m gone, it’s my family who will miss me. It’s my kids who will remember if I made it to their games or spent time with them. It’s my husband who will pine for my friendship. It’s God to whom I will answer for how I spent my time and energy. Did I make my family my primary garden and tend to it with loving care? Did I serve the underprivileged? Did I care for a sick friend? Did I spend time with the Lord in prayer? Did I do the things that provided me with real fulfillment – the kind that can only come from the Lord…or was I too “busy?”
There are millions and millions of distractions around us all day, every day, but as I fix my eyes on the things in life that are of epic importance – loving others as I love myself; making my body a suitable residence for the Holy Spirit; serving the downtrodden – the Lord will perfect those efforts.
I must live my life with purpose and passion…otherwise, I’m just wasting my time and effort. It’s fruitless. It’s stressful because I have not the grace to perform, at my peak, on my own. I’m spinning my wheels, constantly working toward some distant goal that I will never be able to grasp.
This morning, I asked my friend, “What kept you up past midnight lastnight?”
He laughed, recognizing the reference. He told me he couldn’t help it. Stressing was a family trait that was passed down to him. I told him that was a weak-man’s response and I wouldn’t accept it coming from him. I told him get it in check before he passes it on down to his children. Then I told him, “I slept like a baby.” 🙂
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