• We are taking a tiny detour to talk about something I have seen is constantly surfacing as a big issue: busyness. To be honest, I didn’t want to write this, I wanted to trek on in the identity series because that’s where I thought we needed to go. But God kept pushing back, trying to send me to this road instead (which I realize now is still well within the topic of identity), and I finally got the hint. This is not an episode about Sabbath or good use of our talents. It’s just to talk about being busy, why we’re busy, what we can do, and the hope that we have in Jesus when we are so tired.
• As a self-respected American adult woman, there is one badge of honor we all love and love to hate. In one word we say it all: busy.
  • I was the queen of busy in high school, and I am so tempted to be that way now. But when I look back at that time of running around like crazy, always thinking of the next thing to do and never the present, I realize how lonely I truly was.
• A lot of things we are doing that keep us busy are good things!
  • I watched Lysa TerKeurst speak on the topic “Unrush me” (you can find her book The Best Yes here), and what struck me the most was when she felt Jesus asking her “Do you love me more than these things that keep you busy?”
  • What things are you holding on to just so you can put it on the altar of the god of busy? Do you love Jesus more than these? What are we willing to give up to decrease the power that busy has over us?
  • Psalm 39:6-7 We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.
• Our identity is not based on our busyness.
  • In It’s All Under Control by Jennifer Dukes Lee, she echoes this by saying “Your worth is not based on your usefulness.”
• Luke 10:38-40 describes two famous sisters: Mary and Martha
  • While Mary chose the best option to sit and be with Jesus, Martha was “distracted by the big dinner she was preparing” (vs. 40). I am often a Martha, busying myself so much to serve Jesus that I forget to just be with him!
• Sometimes we have to think like a farmer and thin our busy lives.
  • I found an article on a website called Gardening Know-How that described the apple thinning process. It describes how sometimes when a tree is so fruitful, you need to thin out some of the fruit to get the big juicy “King’s fruit” in the end. This includes hard choices, like needing to choose between two good looking apples.
• Satan loves when people are busy.
  • It’s distracting, we forget to pray, we feel self-sufficient, and we get extremely overwhelmed when we reach our limit.
  • a supersaturated solution is when a liquid, under extreme circumstances like heat, will take on more of a solute (the substance that dissolves in it) than what is naturally possible. In a hand-warmer, there is a metal disk that snaps that “just one more commitment” into the liquid. This causes an exothermic (hot) reaction and seizes up the liquid.
  • We are not made to carry so many tasks, burdens, and responsibilities that if given just one more we may completely crumble.
  • Studies have shown that people who take vacations live longer, have better working hearts, and surprisingly are more likely to get that promotion at work than the people who slave over the extra hours.
• My dear friend Amber Payne recently passed away from complications of the rejection of her double lung transplant. However, one of the last things she did was urge us: “We don’t have to run to earn rest; we run fueled by a posture of rest.”
• Jesus absolutely knows what it is to be busy and tired.
  • Mark 4:38-40 describes how Jesus, after ministering to and being pursued by people all day, was so tired that he slept through a storm so violent that experienced fishermen were panicking!
  • Jesus was the busiest, most needed, and had the most expectations on him of any human before or since. But He gives us multiple examples of taking time to rest. Here are just a couple:
    • Mark 1:35- Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed.
    • Luke 5:15-16- the news about him spread all the more so that crowds of people came to hear him and be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
    • Mark 6:31-32- Then Jesus said “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t’ even have time to eat.
  • Yes, Jesus was busy! He was also human and therefore got tired. He set an example of taking a break, resting when He knew it was needed. It’s ok to take a break! Even Jesus did, and He managed to still save the world.
• The word rest is foreign to us, or we sometimes just flat out ignore it.
  • I realized that some words have “rest” in it for a reason. like Rest Stop. I have often used these to take a tiny break on long or late trips, especially when I was afraid of falling asleep. Taking a break did not mean that I gave up on my journey and spent the rest of my life living at a rest stop! It gave me the energy to get back on the highway and keep going safely.
  • Restroom: a glorious place where we sit for a minute (sometimes you get the luxury of doing it without tiny humans trying to get in your lap). This is a place to sit and literally “dump” the toxins out! (Yes, I did make a potty pun).
• We are putting too much of our identity in the words busy and tired. These are things that we can and must change if we want to offer to God the king’s fruit of our efforts. Sometimes you need to choose between two good things so you can get best. Sometimes you’re tired and you just need a pit stop. That is not a failure! It is wisdom.
• I have often felt overwhelmed when reading about the Proverbs 31 woman in the Bible. However, while doing research on the topic I found out some interesting facts.Chabad.org has a conglomeration of a multitude of articles relating to Jewish faith, practices, and teachings. While looking on this website I learned two amazing things about this passage:
  • This is not a list of things that we should do, it is an acrostic poem celebrating the things that a godly woman can do! Men sing this “Eishet Chayil” (woman of valor!) song over their wives and mothers to celebrate them on the Sabbath.
  • There is nothing written in these words that are meant to pressure women into doing all of the things. It is written in awe and celebration at the wonderful things a woman is capable of doing.
• Sometimes we are just in seasons of life where rest does not come. But rest has been a part of the plan literally since creation. God does not expect us to be the Energizer Bunny. Nor is He disappointed when we have to say no to something that we just can’t add right now.
  • He is the god of Psalm 23:2-3- He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength, He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
• Jesus is the rest in our busy. He is the strength in our weakness. We definitely have good and important work to do, but we have never been asked to do it all.
• Matthew 11:28-30- Then Jesus said “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you- let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Disclaimer: Peace is not something that I would ever in any seriousness call myself an expert, or even proficient at. This episode is just a compilation of things that have meant a lot to me as of late in relation to peace.

• The Bible has a lot to say about peace. Most likely because it is something that plagues every single person. Therefore, this is not anything close to being comprehensive.
• The phrase “Peace, be still” is arguably made the most famous from the story found in Mark 4:39 (and the corresponding verses of the other gospels).
  • Jesus and the disciples were traveling by boat on the sea. Suddenly, while Jesus is sleeping, a huge storm surrounds them and the disciples panic. Remember, these are season fishermen and boatsmen so it would take a lot to cause panic to this extreme. They wake up Jesus and beg him to rescue them. Jesus’ response was 3 words: Peace, be still.
  • This command is multifaceted:
    • First: peace. The definition of peace is “freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.”  Jesus commands this, but thankfully he also provides it.
    • Second: be still. He’s calling us to peace by having us stand still. Why? Because he does it all for us.
• Focusing first on “be still,” a huge part of that is rest.
  • When we are not rested, we cannot think clearly or work at our normal physical levels. Unrest makes us weak and therefore so much more vulnerable to attack.
  • Even Jesus made specific time to rest.
    • Mark 6:31-32- Then Jesus said: “let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”
  • God provides our rest.
    • Psalm 23:2-3- He lets me rest in green meadows, he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.
    • Isaiah 40:28-31- Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding. He gives power tot he weak, and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
    • Matthew 11:28-29- Then Jesus said “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
  • Family expert Paul David Tripp said “Rest will never come by trying to figure it all out. It only comes by trusting the One who has it all figured out for you.”
    • Isaiah 26:3-4- You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal rock
• Peace is freedom, so how do we get to that point?
  • For me personally, I feel peace when I feel safe. And thankfully, God offers that safety.
    • John 14:27- I am leaving you with a gift- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
    • 1 Peter 5:7- Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
    • Psalms 56:11- I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?
  • We have been promised peace. And with God, a promise is always a promise.
• I have no expert advice on peace, but even in deep and turbulent trials, God is with us.
  • Isaiah 54:10- For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broke” says the LORD, who has mercy on you.
  • John 16:33- I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
• Check out the song Miracles by Jesus Culture.
• When trying to understand a concept, I like to also focus on what it is not.
  • For me personally, the opposites of peace are anxiety, doubt, and worry.
  • When we wallow in worry, anxiety, and doubt, it is like a big neon sign to everyone around me that I do not fully trust God in all things.
• Recently I heard about a family in Indianapolis who lost their 2 year old in a pool accident. This woman, who is wallowing in the agonizing pain of losing her son writes about her trust in God even in these times. That, my friends, is a peace beyond all understanding. You can find her blog here.
  • Philippians 4:7- Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
  • Luke 1:78-79- Becuase of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guide us to the path of peace.
• A woman who has been through so much suggest that I read Hind’s Feet on High Places. Written in the same vein as Pilgrim’s Progress, it’s a story of a character named Much Afraid as she journeys with companions Sorrow and Suffering to get to the high places with the Chief Shephard. One of the major themes of this book is the love of the Chief Shephard as he transforms fear into grace and glory through sorrow and suffering, which leads to joy and peace.
  • 1 John :18- There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear.
• To be clear: I am not saying that things like extreme anxiety, mental illness, depression, etc can be handled by quoting Bible verses. God made us to be relational and companionship. There is nothing wrong with getting people in with you to help you fight back, whether that’s counseling or a great group of friends who are willing to go into battle with you.
• What are we supposed to do with our peace? Go to war!
  • The Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer has been a huge impact on my spiritual life as it discusses the armor described in Ephesians 6. One of those pieces of armor is: peace.
    • Peace is the shoes. Ephesians 6:15- for shoes, put on the peace that comes from the good news so that you will be fully prepared.
    • Roman soldier’s shoes were covered for protection, high tops for ankle supports, and cleats that both helped the soldier stand firm and move forward with a good foundation.
      • Colossians 1:23- But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.
      • Corrie Ten Boom said: If God sends us on strong paths, we are provided strong shoes.
    • Eventually after we’ve gotten our good peace footing, we are going to be called to move.
      • Zechariah 2:13- Be silent befor ethe LORD, all humanity,k for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.
      • Exodus 14:14- the LORD your God will fight for you, just stay calm.
  • The song Peace Be Still by the Belonging Company is the perfect thing to tie this episode with the next: the shield of faith.
• Psalm 91:1-4 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest int he shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God and I trust Him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.