When You Don’t Want to Hang On
If you have been following me on IG the past few weeks, you’ve noticed I’ve been reading a new book and having my heart and mind changed in all the good ways.
It is called Its All Under Control by Jennifer Lee Dukes. Let’s just like call her JDL because when you read this book, you feel like you know her. My life is FULL of busy and sometimes I have a (really) hard time knowing when and how to rest. I can’t just pick up my life and move to a desert island, as tempting as that might be…..
Jennifer offers a new way to work and rest together and I can’t wait to share some exclusive book content with you today (PLUS A FUN GIVEAWAY) about not being ashamed about how we can get things done!
Do you just want to give up? Let go and let God?
So many times I’ve thought about giving up. Giving up on motherhood. Giving up on friendships. Giving up on trying to do it all – only I’m like an addict. I’m addicted to busyness and I’m attracted to moving forward and “making progress.” Whether that’s in homeschooling my children, building my blogging, increasing my writer’s knowledge, getting published, losing weight, or just being a wife: I want to be better.
As a Christian, I’ve always struggled with this idea of DOING ALL OF THE THINGS. Let me explain. I want to be better at humility. I want to be better at patience. I want to love, give grace, and do life BETTER. Why? Because for so long I felt like I had to. Christ called me to “take up my cross” and followe Him. Isn’t that what that means?
Aren’t we as Christians supposed to be moving to be more Christ-like? Wasn’t that the aim of Paul and all of the other apostles? Only. I’ve found becoming a better Christian consumed my thoughts and my attitudes and actions. I was reading, studying, praying, and feeling all of the guilt when I failed to measure up.
The past few days I’ve been thinking about what that really means. What does surrender really look like? What does Christ really want me to look like? And am I putting too high expectations on myself (again for like the 1 millionth time)?
My favorite quote from JDL’s book is: I like Monday morning 8am way better than Friday 5pm. – YES! I’m a doer and can totally relate to Martha instead of Mary. Secretly I wish I was Mary (sitting at Jesus’ feet listening ), but Martha is who I am.
JLD Has given me permission not to apologize for being busy anymore. That’s right. I can be in the kitchen serving AND still become more like Christ. I need to keep choosing to get up early and avoid productivity when it clouds God’s presence in the morning while I’m reading His word.
Tweet ThisSurrender doesn’t mean to leave all of my obligations behind. It means stepping forward in faith, hanging on to what God has called me to do (take up my cross) even if its hard. It is finding the balance.
Life is all about the balance. There is no right way or wrong way, but for so long I’ve wanted to be a better Christian and not focused on my relationship with God. Developing a close, intimate relationship is something I’m still learning how to do with the Creator of the Universe. I’m not quite sure what to do or how to go about doing it, but I can tell you this: the time spent in God’s word has never been wasted.
Not one time.
So I’m hanging on to all of the balls in the air (even when it is overwhelming) and trusting God with the things I can’t control. Maybe you need to too. If you want, get Jennifer’s book and start to live a life free from holding it all together and finding the courage to know when to let go.
From Jennifer…(exclusive BOOK content)
Here are a few ideas to incorporate more rest into your life.
Instead of scrolling, go strolling. Everybody has time for rest. How can I be so sure? Because that’s the time we use to check social media. Put down your iPhone for the fifteen minutes you would’ve spent on Instagram and take a walk instead.
Don’t let your “yes” encroach on your rest. If you say yes to something new, evaluate everything else on your list to see what might have to go. Refuse to put rest on the altar of sacrifice.
Let your work assignments flow from soul realignments. If “everybody is looking for us,” our souls and agendas need realignment so we can hear clear directions from God.
Protect the freed-up time you have already created. God prunes all of us, but achievers try to immediately fill those pruned spaces. Protect the space that God created for you. Downtime is okay; in fact, it will make you more productive in the work you were designed to do.
Jennifer Dukes Lee is the wife of an Iowa farmer, mom to two girls, and an author. She loves queso and singing too loudly to songs with great harmony. Once upon a time, she didn’t believe in Jesus. Now, He’s her CEO. Jennifer’s newest book, It’s All Under Control, and a companion Bible study, are releasing today! This is a book for every woman who is hanging on tight and trying to get each day right―yet finding that life often feels out of control and chaotic.
Adapted from It’s All under Control: A Journey of Letting Go, Hanging On, and Finding a Peace You Almost Forgot Was Possible by Jennifer Dukes Lee, releasing this fall from Tyndale House Publishers.
I’m so excited to be a part of a huge giveaway to celebrate the release of It’s All Under Control. Jennifer and her publisher, Tyndale, are giving away 50 copies of the book in celebration of its release! Enter below to win. Giveaway ends September 30. Winners will be notified by Tyndale House Publishers. Enter below!
It’s All Under Control 50 Book Giveaway
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