Resisting God Will Wear You Out
August 31st, 2006 | Michael Pink
“Thus says the LORD, Stand you in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, we will not walk in it.” (Jer 6:16) Ahhh… That sometimes elusive “good way” - the one that gives me rest. Why does it give us rest? How does it give us rest? That “good way” is proven. It is God’s way which He has embedded in His word and in the things He has created. When we resist that way, we resist God and that will wear you out!
There is rest, even in the midst of exhaustive labor, if the labor is a labor of love and if the end result is something “good”. Doing things well carries with it a deep sense of satisfaction and that satisfaction is carried over to our customers. If you’ve ever owned a car that needed a lot of repair and then one day graduated to a quality automobile, you no doubt entered into rest. You stepped into the fruit of the manufacturer’s labor and if their labor sprung from the “good way”, you likely experienced rest for your soul.
That’s what I want my customers to experience. That’s what I want your customers to experience: Rest for their soul. And when they do, they will spread the word and become loyal, supportive customers.
September 1st, 2006 at 11:25 am
This is something I have struggled with for years. If I wasn’t doing something to make my business work or prosper, I felt like I was not in faith, you know…faith without works. It has been more in my works than in God’s rest or his ways. How do you get into God’s rest in a customer serv/sales office when it generates so much work?
September 2nd, 2006 at 11:40 am
Hi Sereda;
Excellent question… First of all, the rest is for the soul, not for the body. So you might be very busy, work very hard and even end up exhuasted (Jesus was often exhausted) but be at peace in your soul.
I find rest from doing something that has the life of God in in it. What has life for me, may not have life for you. For me, it helps to stop during the day and get centered. Just stop for a few minutes and connect with the Father consciously. Find that place of communion. In that place, I find rest and from that position of rest I can labor, all the while being satisfied inside and remaining connected to the life of God.
Yes Sereda, work diligently on your business, but always be diligent to stay connected and find rest with the Father throughout the day. Stay as long in His presence as you need. Don’t get in a hurry. Then launch out into the deep for a great catch!
Blessings
September 2nd, 2006 at 6:48 pm
What are practical ways we can bring rest to our customers?
September 3rd, 2006 at 11:57 am
1. Ask good questions.
2. Listen attentively.
3. Give feedback that shows you understand their concerns.
4. Carry a strong sense of peace with you - They can pick up on that.
5. Discover their primary pain or area of need quickly and address that.
September 4th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
You know something I discovered about overwork is attitude. When we are not walking in the spirit as Paul said we tend to get emotional about what is happening around us. Everything takes on more importance than it really deserves. We get up set, we get worried, we get angry etc. All these things are from having our eyes on the physical and not the spiritual. If we are doing the best we can then Christ is pleased and he is the only one we have to worry about anyway. As for the rest the Father know our needs we need only seek after righteousness and keep our minds renewed and centered on Him and the day will pass no matter how busy with out the worn out can’t move a muscle type of weariness that accurs otherwise in a hectic environment.
March 3rd, 2008 at 8:34 am
Michael,
It is such a blessing to come across others who are impacting the marketplace for Christ! Your words are spot on, and I look forward to reading your blog regularly.
The most uncomfortable person in the world is one who is a believer but is not walking with the Lord. Gods way from a human perspective may look harder, but I know from experience that the most restful place is in the center of HIS will.
Be Blessed,
Kurt