WELCOME TO 6 WEDNESDAYS OF REST! HERE’S THE FIRST.
You’ve heard the quip, “God helps those who help themselves.” Is it true? Or does God have something better for you?
A confession: To-do lists dominated my space–desk, kitchen counter, refrigerator, grocery receipts–things got done. A lot of things. But
c o n t e n t m e n t e l u d e d m e
like sunshine in the Pacific Northwest, like snow in Tahiti..
Yes, little things got done: blond highlights. CHECK.
And big things: book published. CHECK. CHECK.
And even bigger things: marry my college sweetheart, buy a house, start a family. TRIPLE CHECK.
I worked My List and felt good, like I like I mattered. And was a spiritual woman?
Hey, doesn’t the Bible say, “God helps those who help themselves”?
Uh, no. NO!
And the Bible Says
Most Christians — 80 percent, according to a poll by the Barna Group — believe this statement is scriptural. Far from it.
“This saying is usually attributed to Ben Franklin, quoted in Poor Richard’s Almanac in 1757. In actuality, it originated from Algernon Sydney in 1698 in an article titled Discourses Concerning Government. Whatever the original source of this saying, the Bible teaches the opposite. God helps the helpless!” (Source:http://www.gotquestions.org/God-help-themselves.html)
Consider this verse:
You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in his distress,
a shelter from the storm,
and a shade from the heat. Isaiah 25:4
And this one:
“You see, just at the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6
The message championing self-initiative denies God’s grace. The Bible speaks clearly that God helps those who cannot help themselves. He even helps those who don’t deserve it. People like you and me, women chosen by God.
The Upshot
So what does this mean and why does it matter?
Knowing God helps the helpless means that you and I can rest in Jesus. We don’t have to work to get blessings because believers have every spiritual blessing now (Ephesians 1:3). You also have complete acceptance in Christ. You cannot do anything to become more acceptable.
You may even discover, as I did, that all the to-do lists in the world fail to translate into real significance. Sure, you may complete more stuff as you work your list. But are you content?
Chances are you’re busy and dizzy, grumpy and griping. This is NOT God’s will for you. So what is?
Listen:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?
Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
(Matthew 11:28-30. The Message)
Live freely and lightly. Take a real rest. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. Ooh, how these words resonate in my heart. How about yours, my friend? Please leave a comment.
With Joy Overflowing!
Thankyou your post is what I really need, right now I feel overwhelmed just by life it feels its moving too fast with no time for anything my to do lists remain undone . Hearing that there is nothing I can do to gain more of gods love and approval is awesome!
God loves you completely right now. You are his precious child. 🙂
Blessings of Joy,
Lucy
Lucy,
You are exactly right. I have known friends who quotes that when I was in some difficulty. I think they were trying to tell me I had to get busy doing something to get myself out of the difficulty. I think people use it as a way to avoid getting involved in an appeal for help. Like, “Well, I’m sorry, I guess you’ll have ti figure something out. Good luck.”
Helpless. We need to come to Jesus, as you’ve said, as hopeless, burnt out, looking for a refuge from the storms we face in our lives.
Thank you for reminding me and your readers about the true rest we seek.
Have a blessed day.
Many Christians are confused about busyness. Busyness isn’t godliness. Godliness is godliness. We don’t need another program or another thing to do. We need true rest.
Blessings,
Lucy
Hey Lucy,
As a college student, graduating in a week (exam week starting in 2 days) it is easy for me to feel defeated and unmotivated because of being so burnt out. I also just put on a huge humanitarian event on campus that took me all semester to plan, and it was over in two hours. We made 4,000 food packages for 4,000 families in South Sudan, and I know God used it to bring Himself glory. That was what made all of the work and details worth it.
This post really resonated with how I’m feeling and never being able to officially be done with a to-do list. There is always SOMETHING that can be done, but does it NEED to get done? It is priority? That is what I’ve been struggling with over the past year. The best thing and most productive thing I can do with my time is leaning into and spending time with my Savior. But in the moment, I think other things are more important. I am working on this. I LOVE the verse Matthew 11:28-30, every word means so much and reminds me that of anything in this world HE is the only one that gives satisfaction, joy, peace, and LIFE! He is the only True Source. I’m so encouraged to have sisters in Christ like you, people who love to encourage others with God’s Word and their own experiences.
Thanks so much for this post!
Laura
Laura, what I beautiful verse. God is our joy, peace, and life and so much more. I pray that Lord comforts you in your weakness (your “burned out” feeling) and He refreshes you with His living water.
God bless you!
Lucy
I am way behind on reading these posts, gosh, I needed this so bad…..I stay too busy to enjoy my life trying to make sure everyone else is happy, and doing this and that….man I am tired just thinking about it! It is really hard for me to get it through my thick skull that I don’t have to work and work, but God loves me, really, really loves me…..that is hard to grasp, just can’t seem to wrap my head around it.
Thanks for sharing, Cheryl. Every Wednesday for the next eight weeks, I’ll have a post on Super Self Care. I hope you can read them all. Love and blessings, Lucy
I looked back upon the comments , I saw that I made a comment back in April on it. Looks like I take awhile to learn. Today as I look around my house realizing all that needs done I began to feel overwhelmed and stressed. Then as I was surfing facebook I saw your link and decided to take a moment to read your post. Once again Gods word doesn’t come up empty or void. I need to learn to trust in his love for me and not in the amount of items that get checked off my to do list. Perhaps give myself grace as God has so wonderfully already done!
Amanda, I love your comment. Thank you for your transparency. We all are learning. Blessings, Lucy =D