The Lord’s work is all directed to teaching us to float in the sea which is Himself, and it is really, though paradoxically, the floaters and not the swimmers who get places and accomplish great things for the sake of the kingdom of God.

Thomas H. Green, S.J.  When the Well Runs Dry

Are you busy?  Are you stressed and overwhelmed?   Is your list of things to do longer than your day?   Would if the most important thing you had to do today was believe in the strength, goodness and faithfulness of God?

Striving to be good or to get stuff done or to overcome sinful ways wearies and discourages the soul when it is done apart from faith and hope in God.  And, even worse, it resists the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.  For it is God “who began a good work in you” and “will carry it on to completion”.  (Phil 1:6)   “It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”  (Phil 2:13)  Our efforts can actually distance us from God and His work in us.  For it is His work in us that brings us to our full and perfect completion, all that we are meant to be.

The difference between striving and resting in the work of God is who you put your hope in.   God has clearly said He sees Himself as the one responsible for bringing each of us to completion AND for empowering the work we are called to do.  Who do you see as responsible?  As you start your day do you feel hopeful anticipation or pressure?  If the answer is pressure, dread or stress, then it is likely that you, in the deep parts of your heart, believe it is your job to accomplish whatever is on your calendar.  But Jesus told us we are to be branches not vines (John 15:5).  We are to forever see ourselves as needing constant sustaining nourishment from the Vine.  Jesus is the Vine.

Sadly, many are convinced it is shameful to be so needy, to always have to come back to the Lord and ask again for help.  It’s hard for them to accept that this is how He wants it.  God likes having us tethered to Him.  It is His intended design.  If there is someone in your life who, in the past or present, has shamed you for your neediness, in your mind, in your imagination, say to them, “You are wrong.  God is not displeased or disgusted with my neediness.  He made me with it to keep me close because close is where He wants me.”  Keep saying this until you begin to feel its truth.  And then say it another 100 times over the next 100 days.

I’m still  learning the balance of being focused, hard working and persevering while trusting in the work of the Lord in me.  His work, not my work.  Increasingly I find I enjoy being the floater more than the swimmer.  But then I get excited about something and run ahead without so much as a glance His way and before I know it I’m overwhelmed and worn out and unsure if God and I are even on the same page.  Hard work in its pure and healthy form, is an act of praise not a way to accomplishment.  Think of your efforts as a collaboration with the Spirit, always listening for His direction.  This means we offer our efforts to God with a confidence that He can and will use them, not because we have done a good job, but because He said He would.  It is always and forever about what He does not what we do, and this, surprisingly, is quite freeing and restful.  Like floating.