As happens to so many of us, work and society were screaming in my ear, “You must stay busy! You must accomplish this list of tasks! If you don’t stay busy, you are being lazy and irresponsible. You need to stay consumed with the things that must get done. If you turn your back on the to-dos, you will fail! If you don’t stay busy, you are a failure!” At first, it was difficult to push away the pseudo-guilt that I felt when I left work behind. But as I continued in this practice of taking time out to be with my God and to dig into His Word in the middle of my workday, I found myself becoming not only more peaceful, but also more productive. I would return to the office from these respites with my King with a renewed vigor and confidence, a sharp focus, and an accurate perception of what needed to be done along with a pathway of how to accomplish those things.

 

My cup overflowed, so to speak. I felt abundantly blessed and I greeted each new day with a smile on my face and a knowing that I was not alone. It was during this time that I read the above passage – and it pierced my heart. The truth of it was so clear to me.

 

There has been a re-prioritizing within me. God is more important than the seemingly “urgent” things happening at work. He is more important than a to-do list. Moreover, I have found - as He promises in these verses – that as I look at Him, He shows me how HE works. He shows me how HE handles urgency and to-do lists. He takes my hand and shows me how to follow in HIS ways. He leads me, truly, into “unforced rhythms of grace.” And I am completely awestruck. Why, oh why did I not grasp this amazing truth sooner?

 

Our world tells us that to be busy is to be successful. To answer the question, “How’s work?” with an answer besides “busy” or “stressful” almost makes you feel like a failure. But you know our God – he tends to turn the ways of this world upside-down. If HE has called you the work you’re doing, I truly believe that it is meant to be peaceful. Of course it can and will be hard. You will be stretched and challenged. But do you see what He says? He will show us how HE does it. The most well-known translation of this verse says, “His yoke is easy. His burden is light.” WHY, then, are we walking through life as this world does, carrying around huge weights that we’re meant to give to HIM? Why are we trying to do things in our own strength when Jesus clearly says , “Look at ME – I’ll SHOW you how to do this!”?

 

As I’ve dug into this passage and have let it take root in my heart, I have realized that God is actually the antithesis of stress. Peace in the midst of difficult circumstances should MARK us as followers of Christ. Innovation and strength that seems impossible should be the norm among those who believe. For we do not move forward, we do not live, breathe, move, or work in our own wisdom. Instead, we are coming to Him and His Word daily, saying, show me how to do this, and then following His lead.

 

I have also been overwhelmingly blessed by this passage as I look into my future. I have had numerous people tell me that it’s not going to be possible to continue to work AND to be a good mother. It’s been difficult to filter these voices out and to not get discouraged by the “what ifs” and the “you have no idea what you’re walking into” comments that people, for some reason, feel at liberty to share with me. I appreciate your concern, but I simply cannot listen to you any longer.

 

My God says, “I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.” If this is true, then not only can I DO what I’m asked to do, I can do it EXCELLENTLY. I have no doubts that God has called me to the job that I’m in. It was a huge step of faith and obedience for me to take it in the first place, especially since I saw “becoming a mother” on the list of things that would happen to me in the near future. But He held it out to me and said, “Daughter, this is what I have for you. This is your calling in this time. Take hold of it.” And so I did. There is also no arguing the fact that God has called Benj and me to adopt and that the timing of the adoption has been completely in God’s hands.

 

Now tell me, WHY would God ask me to do both of these things if I couldn’t do them both WELL? I’m not being naïve…I know that it’s going to be a challenge and it’s going to test my strength and my faith in ways I can’t even yet imagine. But I have confidence that I can do it all – not because I’m a superwoman, not because I have all the answers – but because He said He won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on me. My life is being tailored by the Master and the things He gives me to bear will fit me perfectly. I won’t crumble under the weight of the things He’s asked me to do. He wouldn’t be a good Father if He gave me something to carry only to watch me fall.

 

This revelation has made my heart swell with a renewed joy, confidence, and excitement about what is coming instead of the worry and occasional dread of the seeming “heaviness” of being a working mother.

 

My desire in writing all of this is to see people set free from the weights that are holding them down. I want to see the bonds of stress removed from the Christian life. I long to see my brothers and sisters running in a lightness and freedom that allows them to be and to do all that God has called them to. There is so much MORE that God has on His heart. If we would stop trying to accomplish His callings on our lives in our own strength and instead surrender to the rest and freedom that He offers by taking the time to look at Him and to be with Him, I can’t even imagine how much more of His heart and His mission would be revealed and accomplished.

 

Let’s be a people who walk in His unforced rhythms of grace. Let’s be a people who dress ourselves in His lightness and grace.

 

Be free, dear friends. Look at Jesus and be fearless and free.