Pastor's Weekly Word

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12)

I once read a quote that said, “To be alive is to have an anxiety disorder.” It was given in jest, and yet there is a certain validity to it. After all, the only way to not be anxious is to not be alive. As Peter Steinke points out, “Regulating anxiety to the point of having no anxiety is humanly impossible.” We are anxious by nature, and sometimes it can get the best of us. Our work as people of faith, then, is to understand the balance of life and to be aware of signs of imbalance that can lead to unnecessary anxiety.

One of the reasons Jesus seemed so calm through most of his ministry is because he kept good balance in his life. He took frequent breaks, sometimes even when people seemed to be knocking down doors and crawling through windows just to see him. An overly anxious person would have real trouble leaving when they seem needed, as if to say, “The world can’t function without me.” It is a sign of imbalance. Jesus understood that for the health of his ministry to continue, his own health and balance had to be a priority. It is an important lesson for all of us.

We all live in a fast-paced, racing down the road with our hair on fire, keeping up with Jones kind of world. It is a world that can easily convince us we can’t take a break without things going to hell in a handbasket. Don’t believe the myth. Be sure to build some rest into your rat-race. Unplug your phone, get away, and find some time for just you and God. Don’t lose your balance.