Jesus on Stress
I finally gave in and began reading a different Bible. No, not the New World Translation, don’t worry :-). My beloved NKJV study BIble literally fell apart at the seams. Psalm 139 to Romans 8 completely fell out, (that’s a pretty important portion of scripture!) and bits of Ephesians had disintegrated. Everytime I took it to church or school I had to hold it gingerly with both hands, afraid it would all fall apart into the heap on the floor. But I didn’t want to let it go! It had been with me through When God Broke My Heart, it had traveled the Road to Santa Clara, it had perservered through the 4.5 years of feeling shelved by God. This thing had notes and markers and tears on its pages. Plus, I knew where everything was!
But it was time. The Bible was not only falling apart, but it was also huge, which made carrying it around impractical considering the wipes, diapers, snacks, and toys that are also stuffed into my oversized purse. So I gave in. Jeff gave me a slimline ESV (his favorite translation).
I admit I’m still not sold. I think I might still take my old Bible when I teach, for comfort’s sake, but I will admit that for my daily Bible reading, having a new Bible, and a new translation, helps me read with brand new eyes. I was too familiar with the pages before, and now the words read differently, look different, sound different, strike me differently. I’m finding that it’s helpful for seeing things again for the first time.
—-Anyway…now onto our topic.
In our internship class yesterday we were talking about stress in ministry. The #1 hindrance to managing stress in our lives was the inability to say “no.” Or at least, the inability to say no to the right things! So I was reading Luke this morning and I read about Jesus’ packed schedule:
“And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. ANd the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, ‘I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.'” Luke 4:42-43
Jesus 1) knew when to get away and be alone, and 2) knew when to say no. He was on a divine schedule, knew His divine purpose, and was never hurried, harried, or thwarted from his purpose. He never ran, was never late, and never complained about not having enough time in the day.
So today I’m reminding myself that God has allotted exactly the right amount of time to accomplish those things which He has ordained for me to do. No more, no less.
As Jeff and I transition into an even fuller life, filled with school and ministry and holidays and then two kids (!), I’m praying for grace to walk in the way Jesus did. Knowing when to get alone, knowing when to say no, walking according to the divine schedule and purpose of the Father. No need to buy another book on managing stress. Just ask Jesus.