I recently moved offices at work (again). Although I detest moving as much as I dislike most things on the Lifetime Network, I do enjoy one aspect of packing up:
Purging.
I am not a pack rat by nature, but stay in one office any length of time, and every person accumulates “stuff.” Old reports that have no relevance. Duplicate books I somehow received. Shorthand notes about something I needed to do, only the note is so old I don’t remember the shorthand or what I was supposed to do.
And so, when I moved offices, I used the opportunity to lighten the load. My rule of thumb is that if I haven’t used it in two years, it’s gone. I got rid of books that sounded important or intriguing at the time but now hold no interest for me. I dumped teaching plans that must have been inspirational then but now seem rather frivolous. I even let go of music CDs that I once loved (I must have, right?) but haven’t listened to in decades (or seems that long).
Purging felt good. I felt less encumbered. Less burdened. Less cluttered. Letting go of things is a healthy exercise.
And that doesn’t just apply to file folders, old projects, and outdated books.
The move challenged me to think about what God would want me to leave behind in my spiritual life. Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “lay aside every weight…” Each person’s weight is different. For me, that weight is fear. Playing the “what if” game. What if this doesn’t work out? What if I can’t… What if she won’t…What if I try this and I fall on my face? What if they don’t like my idea?
Fear is a tool of the enemy that seeks to paralyze me to inaction and indecision. And when you’re on the frontlines (or behind the scenes) battling for the hearts and lives of teen girls, there’s no time to waiver. If I’m not careful, the enemy can advance in my heart, replacing trust and reliance with fear and doubt.
Your load may not be fear. Perhaps it is anger toward a coworker. A bad attitude toward one of the girls in your ministry. Or even a mom or dad in your church who seems to be your biggest antagonist.
Take time to stop now and then to purge--to stop and evaluate what “weight” you need to lay aside, that thing that is snagging you and distracting you from our relationship with God and your ministry with others.
You’ll be amazed at how good it feels to lighten the load.
What things weigh you down in your ministry to teen girls? Post your reply and share your burden with a community of people who understand what you're going through.
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