“Our obsession with speed, with cramming more and more into every minute, means we race through life instead of actually living it. Our health, diet, and relationships suffer. We make mistakes at work. We struggle to relax, to enjoy the moment, even to get a decent night’s sleep. ”—Carl Honore, Canadian Journalist
With every year of playing, you want to relax one more muscle. Why? Because the more tense you are, the less you can hear. —Yo Yo Ma, Renowned Cellist Have you found yourself racing through life and not actually living it? Is it hard for your to RELAX? to become less tense or anxious; to rest or engage in an enjoyable activity so as to become less tired or anxious; to make something less rigid, firm, or tight.
Believe it or not, ministry leaders experience tension and anxiety. A 2021 Barna study stated that 38% of pastors have considered leaving the profession and only one in three is considered “healthy.” Many are discouraged. Others are dealing their own stress in addition to compassionately ministering to the situations of their parishioners for years if not decades. When your work extends beyond 9-5 into evenings and weekends you can lose track of self-care, fun, and relaxation. Sometimes the flow of ministry—meant to be accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit, turns into man-made effort and works that tire you out. This doesn’t just happen to leaders, it happens to all Christians. Maybe it’s happening to you.
We generally look to Philippians 4:4-9 that tells us not to be anxious about anything, but to pray about everything and think on good things to alleviate our uneasiness. We are rightly told to ‘cast our cares on the Lord for He cares for us.” (1 Peter 5:7) Jesus said, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-30) But there are other admonitions in Scripture that can help to bring us to a place of inward relaxation. Psalm 119:143 NLT says, “As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.” Study and application of the Word of God brings relief. Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Stress often causes us to isolate. That’s when we need the encouragement of others to bring joy, and community, which can help us relax. When the Children of Israel were fearful and stressed by the pursuit of Pharaoh Moses told them, “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:14) We look to entertainment, vacations, and shopping for relaxation, but Scripture takes us deeper to what will give a lasting peace that passes understanding and strengthen us for the journey. So try to relax…and breathe!
