Because of several deadlines I have set for myself I am finding myself feeling rushed, a bit overwhelmed by all that has to be done, pressured, even talking to myself. One of the things I could be heard saying is, “There is not enough time to get everything done that needs to be done.” I have found myself running from place to place, task to task, and hour to hour trying my best to get everything done on my “to do” list before the day is done. I have found myself getting frustrated, irritated, and easily distracted. From time to time as I zipped from one location to another trying to do too much in too little time if anyone happened to get in my way moving a little slower than I think they should, if anyone were listening they could have heard me say, “What are you doing? Get out of my way!” Those outbursts are usually followed be a period of reflection and repentance.
I don’t get like this very often, but when I do it is not unusual for me to wake up in the morning thinking about all I need to get done, and go to bed at night thinking about all I should have gotten done that I didn’t get done, or that I forgot that I was supposed to have gotten done. I make lists of things to do which often include, “Make another list of things to do” as one of the items on the list. I find myself hurrying to finish one task only to find another waiting for me. I think it was in a time such as this that the phrase, “I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I think it is the headlight of an oncoming train” was first spoken. Whew!
It is a busy time. There is much to do. And, after all that is done, there will be more to do. Times like these are really not that uncommon are they? My schedule is probably not any busier that yours. In fact, it is not unusual at all to hear others say the same thing I said earlier, “There is not enough time to get everything done that needs to be done.” Yet, somehow I know that’s not true. As overwhelming as some days (and weeks, and months) may be, there really is time to get things done that need to be done.
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“I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”
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I believe that is some of what Paul was saying when he said in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” I don’t believe Paul meant to imply he could do everything that he wanted to do. In fact, earlier in the letter he had expressed how much he wanted to be with these people but was unable to do so. In Romans 7 he describes his struggle with the flesh and indicates that there were some things that he wanted to do but could not, and some things he did not want to do, but he kept doing them. But, I do believe he was expressing a basic principle for the believer that he had the power, the ability, and the time to do the things that God wanted him to do.
Perhaps our frustrations are caused in part because we make our lists of things that we want to do, or things that we think that we need to do. Then, we drive ourselves nuts trying to do things that could have gone undone. Instead, when I concentrate on doing the things that God wants me to do my life settles down and joy returns. When I give my friend my undivided attention. When I treat my neighbor like a neighbor. When that young person gets someone who really is interested in them and actually listens to them. When my students get a teacher. When my wife gets a truly attentive husband. When the Lord gets a servant.
This week is likely to get just as busy as last week, to focus more on doing what I know the Lord wants me to do, and what I know I have time for. If you can rearrange your schedule, I invite you to join me in living differently this week.
There is time,
Tom
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Not Enough Time