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Dear Sister,
Jesus Wants to Be With You As You Figure Things Out
You don't have to figure out how to come to Him in your struggle, He comes to you, and He wants to be with you in that messy middle!
As Dane Ortlund reminds us:
"He doesn't simply meet us at our place of need, He lives in our place of need."
Your inability, your emptiness, your need, and your sin are not disqualifiers, they are exactly what qualify you for grace. Your inability is the starting point for Jesus' ability. So let your weakness be the showcase of His strength!
Let Jesus meet you right where you are today! Click on the emotion you resonate with most...
Your inability, your emptiness, your need, and your sin are not disqualifiers, they are exactly what qualify you for grace. Your inability is the starting point for Jesus' ability. So let your weakness be the showcase of His strength!
"And He said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while.' (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)"
Mark 6:31
I'm guessing I'm not the only entrepreneur who's gone most of the day and realized I'd hardly eaten anything. Whoops. It's just so easy to get sucked into work, am I right?! Especially if you work from home, it can feel natural to neglect basic self-care like showering and eating in the pursuit of productivity.
I love that Jesus gave us the example of resting. There were so many needy people that he could help! He knew his time on earth was limited, and we see from many accounts of his ministry that He had a very gentle and compassionate heart toward those who were suffering.
And yet, here we see Jesus pull away from the crowds to rest. I imagine Jesus leaning on a staff while a whole crowd presses around him. Mothers crying out for their baby to be healed. A husband bringing his sick wife. A sister bringing her lame brother.
And with a crowd of legitimate needs around him, Jesus leaves to rest. I don't know if he laid down in the shade, cooked some fish over a campfire, or took a nap. Maybe all of those things. But He took time to rest. Does that feel counter-intuitive to you? It does to me!
Even though Jesus was fully God, in His humanity, He chose to embrace human physical limitations. He grew hungry and tired, just like we do. Jesus was able to rest because He knew the work that God had given Him to do. He knew that during His earthly ministry, His Father wasn't calling Him to physically heal every person that came to Him. He set an important example for us in this. Unfortunately, in this sin-ridden world, there will always be more needs than we can care for. We have to do our part, and then trust that God will take care of what we aren't able to do.
Accepting our physical limitations is a way of accepting our finitude, and admitting that we aren't God. We have to know what it is that God is calling us to do, and not do more than what He is asking of us.
We often allow responsibilities and events into our lives because we aren't willing to disappoint others. Our people-pleasing tendencies can fill up our calendars and task lists. But Jesus didn't heal out of obligation, He healed out of knowing His calling. And that included knowing when to draw away from the crowds to rest.
We see Jesus caring for His physical needs here, but rest is more than just physical. Rest is an act of faith in the God who works while we sleep. Taking steps to honor our physical needs is a way to physically remind ourselves to rest spiritually. Just as fasting from physical food reminds us to hunger for God, resting reminds us physically to rest in Jesus.
My prayer for us today is that we would find peace in reminding ourselves of our God-given limitations and enjoy the humility of acknowledging that we're just not that impressive. But we still get to serve Jesus, and we can rejoice that our physical limitations are a reminder the God who isn't limited.
So dear friend, what do you need to rest from today? Feel free to use these as journal prompts for further reflection...
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Are there things on your to-do list that God isn't calling you to, today?
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What are some ways that you have been neglecting to care for your body?
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Do you need more clarity on what God is calling you to do in this season?
Pray
"Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Jesus, thank you for being an example of rest. You say in Your Word that you give rest to those who are weary and burdened. That's me! I need you to help me to rest my body, my mind, and my soul in you. Help me to take time away from my work today, knowing that ultimately, the outcome isn't dependent on me, it's YOU who gives the increase. Give me the wisdom to know what it is that you are calling me to do in this season, and what things you aren't. Jesus, I worship you today for being a God who rested. Thank you for setting an example to me, both in your creation of the world and in your earthly ministry. Thank you for a physical body and for the limitations you've given in your goodness to me. Help me to be faithful today with the things you've called me to, and trust you with the rest.
“A bent reed He will not break off, and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish."
Matthew 12:20
Do you ever just feel weak? Unimpressive? Beaten down? I do. All.the.time.
It's easy to listen to a podcast on entrepreneurship and feel motivated to go do great things, but when you sit down to actually get stuff done, I stare at the blinking cursor again. It turns out, work is hard.
One of my biggest downfalls in the past has been guilt-spirals. I would procrastinate on a project, waiting for that last-minute inspiration (aka panic) to set in. Knowing that I should be working on the project made me feel guilty for not working on it. And because I felt guilt, I didn't want to work on the project (guilt is not a fun feeling, guys!) and so I'd do anything BUT that project. As you can imagine, that spiral is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Eventually, I'd miss deadlines, and people would be disappointed in me, making me feel even worse. It's a hard pattern to pull yourself out of.
I eventually did learn how to work through guilt spirals. I learned to face the projects or tasks that seem overwhelming and break them down into manageable chunks. But I still fail at this sometimes. What then? Am I a failure? Is Jesus disappointed in me? When you fail at something in your business, how do you move past that? Does that mean you are a failure and maybe you should just quit this whole entrepreneurship thing?
I've struggled with wondering if my failures meant that I wasn't cut out for this life, but I realized that every business owner is going to fail. Failure is a normal part of life and a normal part of business. You will fail. A lot.
Jesus isn’t surprised when you fail. He isn’t wishing you'd just “get it together”. As a Father has compassion on His children, so the Lord has compassion on us because He remembers that we are only dust. (Ps 103:13-14) As Ray Ortlund once said, "God's expectations of dust are low." Isn't that liberating? He remembers that we are dust. Do we?
Jesus is gentle with the weak. Jesus is gentle with sinners. So if you find yourself feeling disheartened because of your failures, whether due to sin or just humanity, Jesus wants you to know that He welcomes you. If your fire feels like a smoldering wick right now, He will not cast you out. If you feel beaten up and on the verge of burnout, He will not break you.
So dear friend, what do you need to feel Jesus' forgiveness for today? Feel free to use these as journal prompts for further reflection...
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What weaknesses or failures do you feel shame over?
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How does the gospel answer that shame?
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Do you believe that Jesus is gentle toward you today in your failure?
Pray
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..."
Romans 8:1
Jesus, thank you for taking my shame upon yourself on the cross. Thank you that I can now live free of crippling guilt. Help me to move past failure, not by hyping myself up or excusing the failure, but by seeing that the gospel means I am no longer under condemnation for my sin. Thank you for giving me freedom! Thank you for being gentle with me, even when I am weak and broken. I worship you for your lovingkindness, a love that is constant, despite my performance.
"Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.'"
John 4:34
There is such a freedom in knowing what God requires of you. We put so many burdens on each other, heavy burdens we are often not able to bear ourselves. Look put together all the time. Have a Pinterest-worthy house. Be a super involved mom while also making a lot of money. Have a model body while also giving everything you are to serve others.
Jesus was freed from trying to meet the expectations of others because He knew what the Father had called Him to do, and He did that work. Jesus prioritized. The word "Priorities" didn't used to exist. There was only "Priority" (singular). It means the "one thing." Jesus praised Mary for choosing the "one thing necessary" (Luke 10:42). Where Martha was worried and distracted by many things, Mary knew that there was only one thing she needed to do in that moment.
That's very freeing. I don't need to be doing all the things. There's only one thing at a time. Anything apart from that isn't something God is calling me to.
Jesus values faithful over busy. While we wear our busyness as a badge of honor, He simply asks us to be faithful with one thing, (not two, not five, not twenty).
We can pray, asking Him to show us what He would have us do, and then trust Him to lead through us seeking to be faithful as best as we know how to, in each moment.
My prayer for you today is that you prioritize faithful over busy. That you are freed mentally to just focus on one thing at a time, knowing that God does not expect you to be a superwoman.
He only asks that you seek to be faithful to Him as best as you know how to, in the circumstances He places you in. Remember, His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matt 11:28).
So dear friend, how can you be faithful to do the "one thing" today? Feel free to use these as journal prompts for further reflection...
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Do you feel freedom in the thought that Jesus only asks you to be faithful
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Have you been placing heavier burdens on yourself than Jesus does?
Pray
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”."
Matthew 11:28-32
Jesus, thank you that you trade burdens with me. You take my heavy burdens upon yourself, and you give me your light burden. I know that my soul needs rest in you today. Help me to prioritize the work YOU have given me to do today. I want to do the things that you care about. Help me to glorify you through each task today, whether it's reading my Bible or writing an email. I worship you, Jesus, for being gentle and lowly in heart. You are gentle, not harsh toward me. You are lowly, you are the most approachable person in the universe. Help me to worship you today as I rest in your plan for me. Thank you for your steadfast lovingkindness, a love that is constant, despite my performance.
"He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm."
Mark 4:39
If you're like me, you've heard that Jesus is sovereign over everything so many times that your brain begins to tune it out. But let me get really vulnerable with this one.
I started my first business with high hopes. I had been studying entrepreneurship for a while, and I was so eager to finally own my own business. This is the year, I thought. This is the year when I'm gonna really meet my goals and create an amazing business. This is MY year!
That year was 2020. Not only did I launch a business in one of the most tumultuous years we have had recently, but I also became unexpectedly pregnant with our first baby. I had always wanted to be a mom, so most of me was excited. But I had planned on waiting at least another year so that I could really focus on getting my business off the ground.
God had other plans. I was incredibly sick for a large chunk of my pregnancy, and unable to make the headway I had hoped to. Not to mention, it's hard to get people to spend money during a worldwide pandemic. Not the easiest time to launch a baby business.
My business barely paid for itself that year. I didn't see the success I had mapped out so eagerly on January 1, 2020.
I learned the very disappointing but valuable lesson that my plans aren't within my control to accomplish. God is in control of my business.
At the end of the year, I bought a coffee mug that says "This is my year" on it. But the "my" is crossed out, and written next to it is the word "His". This is HIS year. It will continue to sit on my desk and remind me of the lesson 2020 taught me- that "the mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." (Prov 16:9)
Jesus can calm a storm. He's in control of the weather, world events, and whether you make your quarterly goals. Nothing is a question mark to Jesus, nothing takes Him by surprise.
And that's where we can find peace. We no longer have to work ourselves into the ground to make our goals happen. You no longer need to eat the bread of anxious toil. You can trust the one who loves you and who controls all things. No matter what happens, whether you have success or failure, you can trust the heart of the One who holds all things.
My prayer for you today is that you would find peace knowing that Jesus holds your life and your business in His hand. He is powerful, and He is good.
So dear friend, what do you need to trust Jesus for today? Feel free to use these as journal prompts for further reflection...
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Is there any aspect of your life that you are afraid to trust Jesus with?
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Is there any aspect of your business you are afraid to trust Jesus with?
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What is an area you commit to trusting Jesus in today?
Pray
"It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep...."
Psalm 127:2
Jesus, thank you that you are in control. Knowing that I am not in control can feel really scary to me. But I know that ultimately, whatever control I think I have is an illusion. I can have peace knowing that YOU control everything in my life. Help me to stop eating the bread of anxious toil, and trust in your control.
My business is something I care about, because I've invested a lot into it. It can be hard for me to trust you with it. But I pray that you would help me to trust your heart more and more each day as I gaze on you, and see your character more fully. I worship you for your Sovereignty and praise you for being a God I can fully trust.
"Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded."
John 13:5
I think it can be easy for us to miss the profound absurdity of this passage.
The Creator of the world, the rightful King of Israel, the Savior of the world, The One whose name would be more well-known than any other name in history... He knelt at the feet of 12 obscure Jewish men and washed their dirty feet.
This is about as upside-down as it gets. And that is the way of Jesus. It's contrary to what we would expect.
We have spent several days looking to Jesus and seeing how His character changes us and enables us to serve others better. But even in this last text which sends us out to serve others, we see that we have been served. It is out of gratitude and love of Jesus that we operate in this world.
It is from that place of having our needs met in Jesus that we can go out and serve others. Isn't that so cool? We get to actually be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world. Whatever your business is, you get to take part in serving others. And that work is an image of our Creator God -
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bringing chaos into order
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being creative
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creating beauty
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creating harmony between people
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serving others
So dear friend, what do you need to rest from today? Feel free to use these as journal prompts for further reflection...
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What are some ways that you can go the extra mile for your customers?
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If you have team members or employees, how can you lead through serving today?
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Pray and ask Jesus to impress on you how He has already washed your feet so that you can go on to minister to others from a gospel-driven heart.
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What are some ways you can weave gospel meditations into your work day?
Pray
"So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example, so that you also would do just as I did for you."
John 13:14-15
Jesus, thank you for cleansing me from my sin. Thank you that you don't expect me to serve in ways You haven't first served me. I'm so grateful for your work of salvation on the cross, and even more, for the privilege of knowing You and getting to be in a right relationship to You.
Please help me today as I work in my business to serve others out of this relationship. Help me to showcase the upside-down nature of your kingdom; to put other's interests above my own in a way that baffles others. May my service point others to You.
come join
The Voca Society!
The Voca Society is a fun, positive, and Christ-centered group of women who share their joys and struggles, both in life and business!
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If you struggle with loneliness, motivation, or if you want to explore what it looks like to connect your relationship with Jesus to your business, this is the community for you.
With all business levels (from barely begun to full-fledged) and all walks of life, this group is a vibrant place of sharing, collaborating, and building one another up.
