The biggest reason why many people surrender to the normal overwhelmed, overly driven, unsustainable pace is because we don’t have faith. We don’t honestly believe that God is on His throne, that he can and will handle the details of our lives, that he wants what’s truly best for us, and that his way of doing life is better.
What a weird way of looking at things…but could this be true?
We’re afraid that if we don’t just run non stop and try everything this world has to offer, we’re going to miss out on something.
We live in an addicted world. It doesn’t matter what it is, there are tons of things in life that people get addicted to. Whether its drugs or alcohol or it’s just an addiction to technology (guilty as charged!), there is always something out there that become addictions for people. And there’s no such thing as a healthy addiction, despite what some people think. Even when you think you’re doing something good and important, if it takes the place of God, it’s idolatry. “Idolatry is not just a failure to obey God, it is a setting of the whole heart on something besides God.” (Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods)
Basically, what Groeschel is saying in this chapter is that we always have to be doing something to feel happy, to feel complete. And we “distract ourselves with being productive which makes us look just like everyone else in the world. Our self-worth gets sucked into a riptide of bigger-better-best until we don’t know how to break the cycle.”
This type of behavior is not healthy. It’s sick. It’s destructive. It’s harmful……but it’s normal.
You’re trying to substitute something for God, when He’s the only one who can fulfill you.
We need rest. Simple as that. We need to take the time and just rest. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus tell us we can come to Him. He will give us rest if we just come to Him. When is the last time you were completely at rest? Experiencing real rest doesn’t mean we become lazy and unproductive. “Jesus was busy but never hurried. He was productive but never overwhelmed. He accomplished everything God wanted Him to and still spent long, refreshing days in fellowship alone with His father.”
Too many times, we have the tendency to become overwhelmed with all we have going in our lives. The pressure is on to get things done, to make sure everything is perfect. But why must this be? Why must we go through life so hurried and feel ragged every step of the way?
Take the time to really spend time quality time with God. Let Him speak to you and give you the rest you need. Then you’ll come out with a renewed sense of mind and a sense of peace you’ve never had before. You become fully aware of God’s goodness. The rest will make you more productive! And more importantly, more spiritually healthy!
If you want a normal life, do what normal people do. If you want to know God intimately, walk with Him daily and please him in every way, you’re going to have to do what few do……..absolutely NOTHING.
And that’s weird!
Groeschel tells us to not settle for a normal life. “Not when we can enjoy the wonderful weirdness of being who God created you to be.”
All You Need is Jesus 