Busyness is an Illness of Spirit

I began writing this post around July before school started, but I never knew how to finish it until last Tuesday when Rory Tyor came to speak to the BSU. He started his message with asking a question, "what is a metaphor for our Salvation?" He answered, "rest."

I started my summer out excited. I was starting a new internship in June at Global Outreach International and I knew it would be so awesome.

June finally rolled around and before I knew it, I was busier than ever. I was so busy trying to please everyone else, I got beat down and tired. I pulled myself in so many directions, I had no time for life-giving activities. Being this busy was straining my relationship with Christ.

Sometimes, we think being busy is a result of success. People tend to not talk about rest often. As a college student, I have days I don't even eat a meal without multitasking. I go to bed rehearsing my to do list for the next day. To some, busyness means you are prepared for the future or you have it all together. We stay involved and plugged in so we can control what happens next. But we aren't allowing God to be in control. We say, I am defined by my achievements, but God says, you are who I say you are.

Rest can make us feel like failures or like we are being lazy. I tell myself there is always something I could be doing. What I didn't realize was resting is actually doing. Rest does not equal no activity. It is saying I have confidence that God will do what He says he'll do.

Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewal of our mind. Well then, we better give ourselves a chance to be renewed, hadn't we. Even in Psalm 46:10 we are told to "be still."

Good God things can even be a distraction and cause us to get too busy. I do believe faith without works is dead, but I also believe our personal relationship is most important. A weary spirit is a real thing. Volunteering at vbs, teaching classes and bible studies, fellowship, babysitting, all these little tasks can beat down our spirits. These things are all great and needed, but it is ok to say no. (Also not use to this one yet!) We might feel selfish spending time on ourselves. Sitting down to read or relax our bodies can feel like a waste of valuable time, but it isn't. It is actually crucial to a healthy relationship with Christ. In Hebrews 1:3 Jesus sat down at the right hand of God. HOW COOL!!

One of my favorite parts of scripture is Mathew 11:28-30,

"Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up my yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

God calls us to Him when we are tired and beat down and He will give us rest for our souls. Always draw near to Him, even in our busy seasons, and He will draw near to you. James 4:8. Man, how awesome to have that support.

Busyness is an illness of spirit. The bible tells us a story about being busy in Luke 10:30-42. Stop right now and read it. Seriously. Ok, i hope you did. "Martha was distracted with much serving" Whaaatt?! In our busyness we are distracted from God even while doing works for Him. So I will ask you the question that Rory Tyor asked me, can people see rest in your life? If a non-believer lived a week with you, would they want to have the joy, rest, and love that you have?

-TK