Do you ever believe that if only you could get the house picked up, or finish the laundry, or check off that last thing on your to do list that then you'd be able to sit and enjoy those around you? Or, have you ever felt guilty about sitting down to relax when you have so many other things to do? Have you ever stopped to ask why that is? Why do we as women continually run ourselves ragged, often to the point of exhaustion, just to get up the next day and do it all again? What is the point in that?
I'll tell you a secret: there is no point! It is a ploy used by the enemy to steal our peace, and boy has it worked! I spent years taking care of everyone and everything around me to the detriment of my own health. I chose to accept as truth the lie that I can only relax after everything was done and everyone else's needs were taken care of. Only that list was never complete; I could never finish everything or take care of everyone and still have time in the day to relax. I had come to believe that if I could just control what was going on all around me I could then relax and be at peace.
This is a lie. A life spent in busyness taking care of everyone else around us, without making sure to take care of ourselves, is a stolen life. Jesus tells us in John 10:10 "the thief approaches with malicious intent looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came to give life with joy and abundance."
You have a choice. You can continue trying to make everything work out according to your own understanding, or you can choose to invite God to lead you on his path of peace. Your choice will make all the difference between living in chaos or experiencing peace in the middle of it.
Join the conversation: What has been keeping you from taking care of your needs?