Too Much To Do
Truth: there is too much to do.
Way. Too. Much.
Maybe that is why I picked up this book, Crazy Busy by Kevin DeJoung. Maybe he has some answers. If I just weren't so busy I might be able to find out because then I would have time to read it? As it is I have only gotten through the first few chapters. I like the book, at least the parts I have read. Here is my favorite quote so far:
"I let my planning be dictated by pride rather than by what would best serve my soul, my family, and my church." -Kevin Deyoung
I like that quote because it is true. But I still think there is too much to do.
Is there a twelve-step program for the over-busy? "Hello, my name is Susan. I am a Doer."
The verse, "he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (II Cor. 9:6) has always inspired and paralyzed me. The verse is actually in the context of giving financially. But since abundant finances have never been an issue for me I have applied this to what I can give- time, energy, effort, and service in the life of others, from my immediate family to those around me.
I do not want to ever sow sparingly. I want to sow bountifully. But how in the world do I measure that? Because the great question has always been, "When have I done enough?"
The very next verse states:
"God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed...now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness." II Cor. 9:8, 10
My reality is there is never enough time, energy, or ability available for ALL there is to do. I often feel overwhelmed with so many needs and so little of me left.
But here is another reality- in the verse stated above, II Cor. 9:8, God promises abundance for EVERY good work.
So here is the new thought I am wrestling with. Please see if my logic isn't flawed and if this is Biblical...
- I need to do all the work that God has laid out in front of me
- I need to trust God for the abundance that is required for this work and that He has promised to provide
- BUT IF THE SUPPLIES AREN'T THERE, MAYBE THIS ISN'T A WORK ASSIGNED TO ME!
Sorry for the all-cap yelling fest- but seriously- this could be a life changer for me. You mean every need I see and come in contact with is not my responsibility?
Big Disclaimer- I fully reject the "God won't give me more than I can handle" baloney. I mean please....I had seven children. We moved eleven times. My husband lived in Honduras for a year while I was pregnant with my fifth and my oldest child was seven. God absolutely gives me more than I can handle!
But maybe He does this so I will be stretched enough in order to fully see my extravagant need for His grace.
But just because God gives me more than I can handle DOES NOT MEAN HE ASKS ME TO DO EVERYTHING! (sorry about the yelling again.) Why is this such a surprise? Jesus did not heal every person. He did not solve every problem. He did not right every wrong.
But He did absolutely every, single, solitary thing He was supposed to do. (Mr. Deyoung makes this point in his book too.)
So yes!!! I want to sow for the Kingdom. I want to sow bountifully. I want to be fully engaged in the Lord's business.
But news flash----I am not the only sower!
God doesn't need me. He just graciously uses me to plant His love all around me. I need to be busy sowing. And it could be hard. And I might never see the results. I will leave those up to Him. But in the meantime here is my new game plan:
- I am going to wait of God's supplies
- I am going to sow bountifully every single seed He places in my outstretched hands
- I am going to trust in His sufficiency.
- But if His abundance is not there for the work then I am going to see if maybe I got into someone else's field and am doing someone else's work.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Eph. 2:10