CCOG Newsletter

You are the salt preserving the earth. You are the light shining in the dark world. Jesus didn't deny the darkness. He didn't pretend that life was going to be rosy. In this world, we WILL have trouble. But take heart! Since Jesus has overcome the world, we too can be overcomers.

Yet there is an issue - if we do not shine the light, the world will remain in darkness. When Jesus left this earth, the responsibility to witness was turned over to His followers. No one else is coming to tell the world that Jesus is the answer. If we fail to witness, the people in this world will remain in darkness. They will continue to live without hope. Do you know how it feels to be in a hopeless situation? If someone had the answer that would heal your pain, shame, broken heart and loneliness wouldn't you want them to share?! Our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors are suffering. Please do not allow fear (or laziness!) to keep you from sharing good news that has the power to change lives. Do not be discouraged when you have invited that same person to church for what feels like the hundredth time! Keep shining the light!

Have you ever said any of these things?

“I’m so busy, but so is everyone else; it’s just the way life is.”

“I’m stressed. Everything is an emergency all the time.”

“I thought doing so much for others would be fulfilling, but I just feel drained and empty.”

If you are like me, you have said one, two, or maybe all those things at one time or another. But what if I told you that you might be missing out on the life God meant for you to live, missing out because you are operating in a world of crazy busy where the noise and distractions keep you from what you were meant to do?

How do I know this? I know because I have taken my own journey through the land of crazy busy, and it left me feeling how it has probably left you: tired, stressed, feeling empty and alone, hoping there is more to life than what you’ve been living.

When we speak out loud these feelings that most of us feel daily, it’s easy to see that we need to get off the hamster wheel of crazy busy. Crazy busy is a life without peace.

It’s marked by decisions made for the approval of the world, not the approval of God.

It’s filled with what we think we “should” do, not what we know God has specifically called us to do.

It’s filled with what we think will make others happy, not what is pleasing to the Lord.

But all this busyness, in the end, keeps us just out of reach of the life we were created to live.

The world says we must do it all, but God says we must do only what He gives us to do. It’s time to stop spinning our wheels in busyness and instead slow down to find the spiritual sweet spot of a life lived in sync with God.

Jesus made us a promise: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).”

A yoke is an instrument of work. Jesus has work for us to do, but the burden is light when we do it His way. That isn’t to say our lives will be easy with Jesus. But he promises us a spiritual sweet spot even within the world of crazy that surrounds us.

Operating in our true sweet spot means we are taking care of the big things - God, loved ones, and ourselves - so that we have a solid foundation to live out our calling in this world of crazy. It means we are confident in saying yes to God and at peace when we say no to everything else. This sweet spot is where God intends for you to live.

Prayer:

Lord, I’m realizing that you didn’t make me to run at a breakneck pace. You made me to walk in step with you. Help me examine my life and see what things you’ve called me to do and what things I can say no to. The only yoke I want in my life is yours. Amen.

Action Step:

Think about your life. Are you crazy busy? Is there space in your life for God to speak to you about what he has called you to do? How could you make time to stop the crazy and listen for his leading this week?