Okay… since you are pretty much alone reading this, answer a few questions… honestly!

Is there anything you are stressed about? 

Is your day so full of “important” things to do or get done that what you have to do next is always on your mind? 

Do you have to work late… take work home… or come in early so that you don’t fall further behind than you already are? 

Do you feel like you’re constantly having to speed up to catch life’s yellow light instead of having to stop for life’s red light?  In other words, you’re always having to speed up lest someone catch you OR you are required to stop.

When you do slow down for a vacation or retreat… is your mind still racing on what you need to get done somewhere else?

Can I tell you something?  If you died right now, there would be a momentary bump in the road for others… but they would recover quickly and someone else would be doing your job very soon… possibly better than you are doing it!  And they’d speak of you in byword terms like… “You know, he was a great guy… a hard worker… you could count on him.  (Pause) What time is our staff meeting tomorrow?”

Consider two passages of Scripture

Mark 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, (Jesus) said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (NIV)

Hebrews 4:9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from His.

Life has ALWAYS been hectic… busy… and fast paced.  If you think we’re any different in 2010 than they were hundreds and thousands of years ago, read Mark 6:31 above again.  Jesus came to deliver His followers, not only from sin… but from worry, anxiety, and all things stressful!  The “Sabbath Rest” of Hebrews 4:9 applies to all of God’s people and all the hours of their days.  The Sabbath Rest means that each day we pray… and then trust God to accomplish through us whatever is His will to accomplish (That includes work, family, rest, everything).  Then be satisfied that God’s will has been done.

If we don’t get something done or completed we had planned… you know what… that’s okay.  I don’t think God intended His children to be like the rest of the world that looks like the Tasmanian Devil from the cartoon in all their activities.  I really think God intended us to take life as He sends it to us… patiently, lovingly, mercifully, and peacefully.  Maybe it is God’s will for us NOT to accomplish OUR agenda but instead to do what He sends into our life each day.  Hmm… that’s a novel thought!