I want to expose, unpack, and offer remedies for a pandemic that has been sweeping across our globe longer than any named virus.
An epidemic of such global proportions that it threatens the very foundation of our lives, our loves, our leadership, and our legacy.
If we were, to be honest with one another, or better yet, if I were to pull in spouses, family, or friends, there’s a good chance that many of them would quickly confess that in our lives as leaders, they are witnessing the ripple effects of stress, worry, and anxiety, coupled with a general feeling of being overwhelmed.
Our families, friends, and business associates are often innocent, bystander victims of our busy lives.
Because as leaders we are often great producers, we get affirmation for overwhelmingly busy schedules. A typical North American response to the question “How are you doing?” often ends with us saying, “Busy.” or “Tired.” or “I’ve got a lot going on.”
We may often feel that if we don’t have that response, others will view us as lazy, unproductive, or less than.
After all, aren’t we supposed to be serving the kingdom of God?
Over the years, the enemy has seeded our fields with weeds of worry and stalks of stress that are often causing us to live a harvest without joy, without margin, and peace.
As the writer of Proverbs says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end leads to death.”
What way are we following?
We are dangerously close, especially in our pursuit of ministry, missions, or business endeavors of being the people who gained the world and yet lost their souls.
We could easily go around the room and name great leaders who have lost it all in their pursuit of gaining more. Affairs, addictions, embezzlement, health concerns, or improper activities can all be the result of a tired heart.
We could probably name friends who are teetering on the edge of burn-out or worse, we could look in the mirror and know that we are living at an unsustainable pace.
A pace that is not conducive to leaving space for intimacy with God, deep relationship with our spouse, or meaningful conversations with our family.
Just like the Snickers commercial that says, “you are not you when you’re hungry”…
The same can be said, “you’re not you when you’re tired.”
My friends, I am here to tell you there is hope!
There are practical ways that you could combat this chronic anxiety. There are practical ways that you can eliminate the hurry in your soul, and there are practical steps that we can take to experience the rest our lives yearn for.
But like any great endeavor or any spiritual transformation, it starts with a humble heart and a renewing of the mind.
The apostle Paul urges us to, “not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.”
We must better understand the concepts of rest and work. We must confront any unbiblical thinking that has come as a result of our culture, our environment, or even the church. We must learn to embrace rest as an invitation rather than simply another obligation.
AW Tozer has said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
Our overloaded schedules, busy lives, and lack of margin often indicate we see ourselves as slaves of a cruel taskmaster, rather than sons of a tender and loving God.