‘Accept yourself in your weariness’.
I read these words this morning, well more like, I drank them in. Thirsty for their truth. Thirsty to be relieved of my burden for ‘do better’ – ‘do more’ – ‘get going’.
The small voice in my head often tells me: “Do it, Sandra!”
Yes, I’m a doer.
I feel great when I get something done.
I love – crave – and, often demand, of myself (and, if I am brutally honest, probably of my family) to be efficient.
I believe us doers are often the weary ones.
Tired from trying so hard. Tired from our efforts to accomplish more – and get ‘it’ all done.
Are there any other ‘do-ers’ out there?
People who crave task mastering – task mongering – just doing ‘it‘ (and, really, it doesn’t much matter what ‘it‘ is – as long as I accomplish ‘it‘).
You and I, friend, are do-ers. We do the task at hand. We don’t require reminders or someone behind us to drive us. No, we are self driven. We have our own personal slave driver, complete with whip.
Do you recognize the lash of the whip of:
- self bitterness
- shame
- guilt
- control
Those lashes, or thoughts, push me for results. That oh-so-small voice of self incrimination is really a not-so-small giant. My own real life Goliath. Huge. Scary. Mean. Out to kill. Me!
“Cease striving and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10
Cease – to desist, to stop. Not ‘to do‘!
No wonder I run to this verse and share it on this blog so often. God offers us relief from our striving.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
II Cor. 12:9
Perhaps, not all my weakness can be removed and remedied, but my weaknesses can be places God uses, ‘as is‘.
My weaknesses can be places where God’s strength and bigness, His ‘immeasurably more’ status can be made manifest. I can offer myself to God as is – in my frailty – trusting His strength.
I can replace the lies of inferiority, control, self doubt, unloving with truth:
- I am God’s beloved
- I am called by name
- I do not need to be afraid
- I am His
- I am chosen
Cease striving. Why?
Because He is God. He is enough. It is finished.
My efforts are not required.
May you and I quench our thirsty and weary hearts on God’s truth.
May you and I receive God’s gift – to be our strength – our very strong.
May you and I grab on to God’s hand as He leads us towards the quiet waters of restoration – where knowing God is enough.
You and I can come as we are. Come weary. Come thirsty. Come tired. Receive all that He has for you.
Linking up with Lyli’s Faithonfire, Deb’s Faith’nFriends
We were studying this yesterday on another blog. The definition of still and various translations. I rechecked my study of the use of the verb rapha and actually learned how it is used in 2 Kings 4:27, and 2 Chronicles 21:15, in phrases like ” Leave her alone . ” and “withdraw your hand. ” He means it let him work it out. I try to fix things i can’t.
Rebecca, I love those definitions, so helpful. ‘Withdraw your hand’ – how hard it is for me to stop my hands from meddling, fixing, etc. Thanks for sharing!