Greetings!
Today’s Word of Encouragement is: Are you Wearing too many Hats?
Being all things to all people is a trap, and if that’s you, there are some changes that need to be made. Sometimes you can work for years your hardest to hold it all together for your family, friends, ministry or coworkers. You’ve done all the laundry, cooked all the meals, juggled all the schedules, taxied all the riders, managed all the projects, said “yes” to every request, dried every tear, calmed every tantrum, listened to every need and completed every chore.
But “Why are you doing it all? Sometimes we think that we have to earn love and approval. You don’t have to work for your safe spot in the world! And guess what else… stop thinking that it won’t get done if you don’t do it. Everyone else’s needs do not erase your own! You are just as important! A time will come when you simply can’t do it anymore because you have no reserves left. You have become depleted, exhausted, and honestly you may even feel a little salty. Know this… this is the story behind a lot of women! I’ve talked to so many who feel this way and there was a point in time when I felt this way also. Women have the gift of nurturing, a beautiful trait of God Himself, and yet sometimes we overstep. We do for others what they should be doing for themselves. We bury our own needs under the pile of expectations hurdled at us. We try to hold it all together when that was never our job.
But it is Jesus’ job. Colossians 1:15-17 gives us an insider view to who Jesus is and His magnificence beyond comparison. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. … And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”In addition to what our key verse says, Jesus also is: The Creator. All things were created through Him and for Him. (v. 16) The Head of the church. (v. 18) Preeminent. (v. 18) Reconciling all things back to God. (v. 20) In Him all things hold together. Not in me. Not in you. What a remarkable relief in that truth! Because of who Jesus is, we can release all that we are not.
Each of us have our share of duties and responsibilities, but we can’t do everything. When we try to hold it all together, we step into Jesus’ job, and we end up in an unhealthy place. What does it look like to allow Jesus to hold it all together, embracing His provision and living in His lavish love for us? We prayerfully say “yes” to the tasks He’s given us and leave the rest to Him.
Sometimes it’s simple, practical steps like letting go of certain things that you can teach others in your household to do that will also give them a sense of responsibility and a skill for when become adults and go out on their own. Or whatever it may be that you can show/instruct someone else to take care of so that it is removed from your platter (sometimes we have platters instead of plates). Guess what else, sometimes it’s saying “no”. Saying no simply leaves space for the person who’s truly called to do it. Let your “no” be no and your yes be yes!
Overcomer, we don’t have to hold it all together. Jesus, in His grace and power, fills that job description more perfectly than we ever could, so let’s hand the title back to Him. When we do, He’ll restore our souls, returning us to a healthy place of service combined with rest.
Lord, I’m tired, and I’m ready to relinquish back to You what only You can do. Show me what I need to release to You that I was never meant to do in the first place. Flood me with Your strength to do the tasks You’ve assigned to me, and erase the guilt I feel when I say “no” to everything else. I trust You to fill each need with the one who is called to it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Be Optimistic; Be Open Minded; Be an Overcomer!!
Love Min. P.