There was a time in my life when I felt a heavy burden and great stress about what I was and wasn’t doing. At that time, I was a baby Christian with a poor understanding of the realities of who I was in Christ and how God made me. Each time a good activity or ministry came my way, I felt I had to take part in it even if I didn’t really have the time and energy. I even gave myself to some things I may have had very little passion for.
Over the years, I’ve grown in knowing who and whose I am. I feel less stress about all of the needs I see. I admit I still look at needs and feel a burden, but I’m able to better decipher my realities of time, energy, abilities, and desires. I admit that I may still participate in some activities that I have low energy and desire for as God puts them on my heart. I have a better understanding though, of what activities are long-term and what are short-term. I am able to know in my heart why I’m participating in something. Life experiences and taking the time to learn about who and whose I am have helped me to guard my time. I imagine, though, that I’m still in need of this growth and learning will need to continue throughout my lifetime.
Think about your life for a moment. Do you sense growth in this area over time?
Do you think that a person with a strong concept of who they are with well-defined boundaries is less prone to stress than a person whose lacking that?
Those of us who are less sure of who we are (how we are wired, what we are called to do in life) and whose we are (a confidence in who we are as people found in Christ), will find ourselves more stressed.
Why is that?
Because if we don’t know what we should be doing, we may feel unsure about how we’re spending our time and we may say “yes” to too many things.
And although I’ve grown in knowing myself, I still make mistakes. I still find myself stressed for lack of time and wisfom to guard it.
Because if we don’t know our true status in Jesus, we may experience the stress of not sensing His rest and benefits.
When we know ourselves, we can be better stewards of God’s time and resources. Knowing ourselves allows us to set limits that impact our time, energy, resources, and emotions. Knowledge gives us the ability to be responsible for our God-given time, energy, talent, and creativity.
The foundation for our desire to set boundaries in our lives must be our confidence in whose we are.
I believe we need a deep understanding of both who and whose we are in order to have a low degree of stress and a high degree of passion for life. If we don’t have a vision for our lives, we will do very little or too much. Either option causes stress.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” -Philippians 2:12-13
This is my final post on Seeking the Savior in the Stress! Would you like to grow in knowing who and whose you are? I will begin a new series at the end of May on this very topic. Until then, I’ll probably write a couple of posts, but will be taking a few weeks off of writing on a particular theme.
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So true, Amy! We do need to understand who and whose we are in Christ. He makes all the difference in our perspectives and decisions each day. Thanks for this very practical and inspiring post. I’ll be pinning to my spiritual encouragement board!
Thanks for pinning, Beth!
Yes, if I know who God wants me to be, I am released from false expectations that I may have formerly placed on myself.
Writing this post this week has really made me thankful for being released from these former expectations you mention!
Oddly (or maybe not, considering the working of the Spirit!), this is the second or third post I’ve read lately about being okay with where we are and what we’re doing for God, and the phrase “it’s not mine to do” keeps coming to my mind as I weigh all the possibilities at this mid-life juncture!
Blessings to you, Amy, and thanks for words of hope and wisdom!
Glad this post could be yet another way the Holy Spirit may be nudging you! 🙂 Thanks for visiting!
Hi Amy, So much wisdom in this post. We’ve all been in this situation, myself included. We give our time to things that are all honorable causes but maybe not what God wants US to do. I love what Michele wrote here, “it’s not mine to do” . Praying that we will all keep our focus on Jesus and what God has for us to do. I have enjoyed your series on Seeking the Savior in the Stress and looking forward to the next. Many blessings!
Thanks for reading the series! I’m praying the same!
This is really helpful Amy and puts to words what I have always dealt with but had not gotten to the root of. Appreciate this!
Thanks for sharing! I hope it encourages you to know that we all deal with this. Blessings!
So true, Amy. Knowing we’re His gives a quiet confidence unlike any other, doesn’t it? I’ve had those times when I’ve over-committed as well, and they are a lesson unto themselves, aren’t they?! 🙂 Thanks for sharing today. ((Hug))
Yes—our mistakes in this area are definitely lessons! Thanks for the linkup!
so very true. and i think these two things are found in the normal progression of growing up or growing older – maturing plus surrender to God equals a calmness in observing the myriad of needs before us. one of our jobs – those who know ourselves, is to pass on these truths to the younger ones who are still swimming in learning who they are – and to show them the peace that comes from self-understanding and who we are in Christ. that doesn’t mean I don’t swim in circles still at times! but age is a good thing for the most part!
This must explain why I don’t mind, in some ways, aging. I sense more joy, peace, and happiness as I age. The key is, as you say, coupling the aging with surrender to God. And I agree, we should be helping the younger ones along. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Amy, this post reminded me of the years I spent trying to teach fifth and sixth grade children’s church … it completely exhausted me and I began to dread even going to church on the days I had to do it. Finally, I just told the children’s pastor I couldn’t do it anymore and what a relief that was! I am much happier and better equipped to write, do things in women’s ministry and greet people at the door on Sunday mornings. I love how you point out that growing in this area is a lifetime process … and each new thing we realize about how God has wired us certainly helps!
Lois-I know that feeling of serving in an area that’s just not a good fit. I”m so glad that you figured out ways to serve that don’t exhaust you. Blessings to you as you grow in knowing yourself and knowing God.
I could really relate to this Amy. It takes time I think to learn the balance of what we are called to and what we are not. I was just like you as I took on more than He wanted for me in the beginning. Slowly I understood my identity as it came from Him and not how I viewed myself. Jesus continues to teach me how to live out this faith in a complicated world where we feel pulled toward over responsibility or over commitment. Great post!
Hi Gretchen–I appreciate the similar theme in so many responses this past week. So many have mentioned that we learn over time. One of the blessings of time and aging!
Amy, I really appreciate this post! I’ve been thinking a lot about identity since I’m writing a book on comparison. I wish I could have a cup of coffee with you and just talk about this!
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party. I’m featuring you this week!
Richella–thank you for featuring my post this week! Yes–it would be nice to chat about this over coffee!
Hi, Amy! I just wanted to say hi and check on you. It has been a while since you posted, and I miss seeing your smiling face! I trust all is well and your absence is for joyful reasons. I am praying for you, my friend, and sending hugs your way!
Amy,
What a journey it is to learn to really find our identity in Christ. I could relate to what you wrote here. It is a lifelong process but it is encouraging to see growth, as you pointed out in your post. Blessings and may God continue to comfort you and give your grace.