Scripture
‘Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked. You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.’ Psalms 43:1-5
‘Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. ‘ Deuteronomy 5:13-15
Observation
Discouragement happens. Depression happens. Sadness happens. Betrayal happens. Weariness happens. Exhaustion happens.
These passages remind me that all of these experiences are a normal and expected part of life, even as a child of God. God’s plan is not for me to remain and sink deeper into these unhealthy places though, but rather that I would daily return to Him as the source of my strength, for renewing and recharging to carry me through the battles. God is not afraid of my honest cry for help, or of my acknowledgement of my own weakness. On the contrary, it is through honestly admitting my own weakness that I am able to return to His throne for the renewing of His joy in me.
When I lead from a place of arrogance and self-sufficiency, I sacrifice not only my own spiritual and physical health but also the wellbeing of those that I lead. My own lack of spiritual health will put me and them back into a place of bondage and burden, from which Christ has already delivered us.
Application
My own strength is inadequate. God knows this, and He is not afraid of my weakness. This week I need to be proactive to acknowledge my own limits, and not live on (or past) the edge of my capacity. I need to embrace the Sabbath commandment as a non-optional part of becoming more like Christ–not only for my own sake, but also for the health of those that I lead. I need to be careful not to let my own ego and internal drive, cause me to lead others into a place of bondage and slavery.
These past weeks I have begun to approach the limits of my capacity–on the job, at church, and in my family. My desire to not let others down can quickly devolve into the arrogance of thinking that it all rests on my shoulders. I need to return to the rest of the Holy Spirit, and humbly acknowledge my limits. As I do this, God’s joy will again be able to flow through me to strengthen me and those around me.
Prayer
God, help me to daily return to You as my source and supply. Help me to recognize when I am trying to do things on my own strength, instead of through Your rest and Your power. Help me not to lead those around me into a place of spiritual sickness and bondage, through my own lack of boundaries and lack of rest.
Thank you for giving me strength to do what You have called me to do, and wisdom to recognize that which You have NOT called me to do.