“Just let me do it!”
I was talking with a friend who was explaining how she was so exhausted and frustrated. She was telling of how while trying to get some work done for a church event, other volunteers were holding up her progress. She was sharing how if they would just get out of the way and let her do it, she’d get it done faster so she could move on to the next thing.

She was spinning. Overwhelmed. Her job, her family, her extended family, a friend she’s helping, church activities. I see the exhaustion etched in her face through her smile. She explains she’s just doing her usual daily routines but her friend needed some extra support; Oh, and her job needed someone to fill in;a family member that needs errand running; church needed volunteers.

I start there—“why did you volunteer to help at church when you’re this crunched with your schedule?” She stares at me like I have 7 heads. She explains the church asked, and it IS church after all so it’s a good cause (continuing to look at me like I just don’t get it). We talk about how there are zillion ‘good’ things we can all be involved in but that doesn’t mean we’re supposed to be. We have to know what is put in our path to pick up and what is to be left on the path.

Ever fall into this pattern also? (Okay, I’m not exempt from this either!)

I admit something about this too: while reading scripture, I used to be confused about doing good deeds. One verse states that faith without works is useless then another states its faith alone-not our works-that saves us.

How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? James 2:20
For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

So I can see how many of us fall into a misunderstanding. We feel if we’re doing ‘good’ things then we’re on the right track. Surely we’re doing what God would want since these are all ‘good’ deeds, right? The good deeds are not what saves us but surely God is happy with us if we toil for the common good. Ever think this way?

Here is the difference I’ve learned: We are to do what GOD leads us to do. There are a zillion good things but we’re not called to do them all. You are not called to kill yourself with overscheduling so you can do one more ‘good deed’ in the name of the common good.

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How can I say this with confidence? Because I was a classic ‘let me help, let me do it’ overachiever that ended up sidelined with a body that quit from overexertion. I spent a long time pleading with God to heal me and questioning why He didn’t heal me quickly since I was doing all these good things for His kingdom. One day a quiet response came….you’re doing many good things but I didn’t ask you to. This is all your own doing, not Mine. OUCH. Busted.

So I ask you the question: are you doing what the Father has asked of you? Or what you think He’d want because its good stuff, good deeds, helping others, etc? If He isn’t leading you to be an active participant, perhaps he wants your efforts elsewhere-maybe even resting and letting someone else have the chance to pick up the reins.

Jesus set the example. He walked among us with needs everywhere. He didn’t drag himself to each and every need, in every village and town and country. He did what the Father instructed him to do. Another example is the classic story of Mary & Martha.

Martha was working hard getting the supper ready. She came to Jesus and said, “Do You see that my sister is not helping me? Tell her to help me.” 41 Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 Only a few things are important, even just one. Mary has chosen the good thing. It will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42

Ouch again. Many needs are there, many good things. But we need to be sensitive to what the Father has for us to do…not everything that NEEDS done but what He has given us individually and specifically to do.

I recall a saying I had heard many years ago from Joyce Meyer “If the enemy can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy”. It has stuck with me over the years—I get it. Wearing ourselves out isn’t showcasing the light within us, it just makes us look like frazzled messes. Why would a lost person be interested in being a worn out frazzled mess? I know, not pretty.

I encourage you to take a moment to step back, get some alone time with the Father and ask him to show you what HE wants you to do. Not all the needs in your world, just the need He has specifically for you. Maybe that need is for you to rest.

“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Mathew 11:30