Written September 29, 2016 by Byron Wicker
“Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath” (John 5:8-9).
Dear People Who Keep Company with God,
We live in a society that values busyness. Ask anyone how they’re doing and you’re likely to hear something along the lines of “I’m busy” or “Things are crazy.” It is like we secretly take pride or feel affirmed in our busyness. The mental drive to do is stronger than our heart’s desire to slow down. Busyness robs us of the joy of living fully in the moment. Our lives pass by in a blur as we spend our days on what’s most visible and urgent, giving little to no attention to what really matters.
Jesus was the master communicator and often, even when He wasn’t teaching or telling a story, the things He said were full of revelation. There was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. He was confined to a bed. Jesus healed him on a Sabbath and told him to “rise, take up your bed and walk.” Why not just tell him to rise and walk? Jesus was not just telling the man to get up and get going; rather, He was revealing a secret to living well. The bed is symbolic of rest. In essence, He said, “Rise, take up your rest and go live your life.”
In the Book of Ruth, Naomi, being a type of the Holy Spirit, tells Ruth, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?” (Ruth 3:1) We would tell Ruth the opposite, “Shall I not seek for things to go well with you so that you can rest?” God designed us to live from rest for our wellbeing, but our mindset is to work hard then we can rest.
We can be busy as pictured by the man walking, but the key is to not allow what is going on with your outside life to disturb the rest in your heart. The cause of much of the anxiety and stress in my life is my attitude and the way I approach circumstances I face. The busyness of the world is not going to change, but I can change my attitude and the way I go about handling my life. When I feel pressured with too much to do or challenging problems, I take the time to reconsider my circumstances as an adventure with God. This removes the pressure of me having to perform. It reminds me that God is a present help in time of need and it keeps me centered in His grace and love, which diffuses the anxiety and fear.
Another thing you can do is create healthy boundaries. For everything you say yes to you are saying no to something else. Make sure you are saying yes to the things that matter most. Don’t wear yourself out on things that in the end matter little and leave you with nothing left for what really matters. Don’t allow the fear of disappointing people to drive your life.
The endless bombardment of news, social media updates and images can be another source of breakdown in your wellbeing. It has caused many people to become information addicts. If you are not careful, it can consume your time and you will have no time left for reflection, stillness, and spirituality. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is just be still, be quiet and be with Him. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Many Blessings, BW