Chapter 4- "The Cure"

Last week, we received the diagnosis. Mary was worried and upset about many things. Thankfully we worship a loving God who would not leave us without the cure for our worry. The cure is "the one thing". The "living room intimacy" with God. In a nutshell it is putting God first in our lives. The author uses a story by Rosemarie Kowalski to illustrate the point that we carry too much. God gives us specific instructions and then fills our wagons with only what we can handle. Kowalski uses the example of stones. God put 3 stones in one man's wagon and off he goes joyfully doing God's will. As the man keeps walking, people keep asking him to carry other stones and pebbles for them. In the end, the man becomes angry at God. Angry that God would give him so much to carry. But our merciful God unloads his wagon and reminds him that he was only asked to carry the 3 stones God put there. He doesn't have to carry the burdens of everyone.

As a pastor's spouse, this hit home for me. I don't have to carry everything. Not all of the jobs are mine to have. Recently I have given up a lot of "stones" that were meant for someone else to carry. Things like Sunday School and leading a bible study. God has called someone else to do that. Someone who might take great joy or learn something in the process. We are not meant to do it all. Weaver says that by doing what God has not called us to do, we might be "stealing someone else's blessing". I have found my action right now is to pray. God has called me to pray for our Sunday School and its leaders. I have learned that this opens doors for me to be blessed by other things God might call me to do. I can't accomplish these new things if I am holding onto something that is not meant to be mine.

So how do we find that one thing? How do carry only what God asks of us so that we can joyfully serve him? Jesus said Martha needed fellowship with him. We find fellowship through sitting with God daily. I really connected with a practical application Weaver gave for finding that "one thing". These are ideas for "one-thing" thinking when your wagon feels overloaded...

1. Invited Jesus to rule and reign. Invite God to be your "one thing" and present your day to the Lord to give you wisdom and guidance.
2. Ask God to reveal the next step. Keep asking "What is the next thing I need to do?" Do not let yourself get overwhelmed by the big picture.
3. Have faith that what needs to get done will get done. Do what you can in the time alloted. Then trust that what wasn't accomplished was either unnecessary or taken care of by God.
4. Be open to the Spirit's leading. Your day might be interrupted but flow with the one thing God puts in your path. You might be surprised at what is in store for you.

(I paraphrased this from her book. I also copied this page and hung it on my fridge as a reminder to myself. Especially #3!)

My last thought from the chapter is that we might need to dump rocks. Like the man who was carrying too much and lost his joy for serving the Lord, some things may need to go. I am in prayer again about what these things are. Whether outside activities or things with in my own self that need to be let go of to joyfully serve where I am called.

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3