If you were to ask me about my job I believe you would hear me say the same thing regardless of who was asking me. This “gig” is hard. Emotionally and mentally – it’s exhausting. Sometimes the exhaustion bleeds over into the physical when things are particularly rough and violent. There is no reason for me to sugar-coat the reality of what I do. It’s challenging.
If you were asking me about my job, however, I would also be adding the fact that while I haven’t always felt or received the support that I should have from the district administration, I have felt incredible support from my principal. Whatever arises, I feel safe walking into his office and problem solving together. My principal has never made me feel unwelcome. My principal has never made me feel stupid. In fact, there have been many times over the past 3 years we have worked together where he has sought me out to gain my perspective on things as well.
Having a positive relationship with my building administration is incredibly important to me. Knowing that I can approach him with needs or concerns and not walk away feeling like I have “put him out” or annoyed him feels good. Safe.
While this relationship is paramount to effectively doing my job, it is really small in comparison to my effectively doing life. I cannot speak for your life, but I am guessing that our lives may not be all that different in regard to our chaos and need. At times life can become so overwhelming. Managing relationships, schedules, finances, physical health, emotional health, spiritual health, even just the day to day mundane things are enough to sap our energy and wipe us out. Then add in the unexpected and much more painful things like loss, tragedy, and sickness – and we are left running on empty, and completely overwhelmed.
Here’s the thing friend – the beautiful promise found in God’s word – “Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.” (Ephesians 3:12) This promise is so much better than the gift of having a welcoming and supportive boss! This is an invitation for all time for God’s children to come before the King, at any time, and lay our needs, our hurts, and our hearts before Him. This King will not hide Himself from us. This King is never too busy for us. This King always holds the answers and creates solutions for each and every problem. This King will not take advantage of us. This King knows no limits and His power exceeds that of our greatest imagination! And by the way, this King loves us.
What is on your heart that you’ve been carrying? What need or concern has been being held in your hands instead of being brought to the hands of the One who actually has the strength to carry it? One who has the power to change it? We have been invited to go to Him boldly and confidently. So why turn down this invitation?
God holds the answers. God creates the solutions. God provides peace in the midst of the crisis. God will not be overwhelmed. He cannot be. Everything in heaven and on earth is bound by His rule.
Friend, we don’t have to do this on our own. In fact, God doesn’t want us to do it on our own. He wants us to come to Him. Give it to Him, and trust Him with it.
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19)
Blessings!