September 11 | Application (‘Amazing Grace or a Blazing Pace?’)

By David Faust 

A friend recommended a book by John Mark Comer called The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World. Ironically, I put off reading it because I was too busy. When I finally made time to read the book, I found helpful insights like these: 

For many of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it.  

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[W]hat you fill your mind with will shape the trajectory of your character. In the end, your life is no more than the sum of what you gave your attention to. That bodes well for those apprentices of Jesus who give the bulk of their attention to him and to all that is good, beautiful, and true in his world. But not for those who give their attention to the 24-7 news cycle of outrage and anxiety and emotion-charged drama or the nonstop feed of celebrity gossip, titillation, and cultural drivel. 

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Ultimately, nothing in this life, apart from God, can satisfy our desires. Tragically, we continue to chase after our desires ad infinitum. The result? A chronic state of restlessness or, worse, angst, anger, anxiety, disillusionment, depression—all of which lead to a life of hurry, a life of busyness, overload, shopping, materialism, careerism . . . which in turn makes us even more restless. 

BURNED-OUT BELIEVERS 
Corrie ten Boom said, “If the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy.” A lot of Christ followers are stressed out. We’ve exchanged amazing grace for a blazing pace.  

Church leaders estimate that 20 percent of the congregation does 80 percent of the work, and the pandemic intensified the problem as once-reliable members stayed away (and marginal members strayed away) resulting in volunteer shortages in vital areas like children’s ministry. Carrying even more responsibility than before, the faithful few are wearing down.  

It’s not a sin to be tired, but chronic weariness is a warning sign, and exhaustion makes us more vulnerable to temptation. Serving God can be difficult, but it shouldn’t leave us bitter and resentful.  

God promised, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). Along with a new heart, why not ask the Lord to give you a healthier, more sustainable pace? If you are growing weary in well-doing, here are three choices to consider. 

• Resist, or Rest? It’s OK to take a break. Even God took a sabbath. Jesus told his disciples, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31). Will you receive that gracious invitation or resist it and slip deeper into burnout? 
• Resign, or Re-Sign? Instead of quitting, maybe it’s time for a change. Instead of saying, “I resign,” why not “re-sign”? Sign up for a different kind of ministry that rejuvenates your soul. 
• Resent, or Re-Sent? Alone in the wilderness, Elijah felt so dejected he prayed he would die. But after he slept, ate, drank, and heard anew the Lord’s still, small voice, Elijah was ready to serve again (1 Kings 19:1-18). If you’re worn out, ask the Lord to refresh your body and renew your heart so that instead of being resentful, you can be “re-sent” full of renewed vigor from the Holy Spirit.  

Personal Challenge: In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, Comer says, “Love, joy, and peace are at the heart of all Jesus is trying to grow in the soil of your life. And all three are incompatible with hurry.” He suggests, “The solution to an overbusy life is not more time. It’s to slow down and simplify our lives around what really matters.” This week, slow down and rest in God’s presence, asking the Lord to refresh your zeal and renew your heart for ministry.  

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This Application by David Faust is a companion piece to the weekly Bible Lesson by Mark Scott and Discovery Questions by Michael C. Mack. This small-group Lookout Bible study material is free. Download a PDF of this week’s lesson material: LOOKOUT_September11_2022.

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