Do you ever feel overwhelmed by trying to meet everyone’s needs? Take some time today and pray that the Lord will give you strength and encouragement as you joyfully serve Him and His people.

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Full Transcript Below:

Serving Joyfully

By: Laura Bailey

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,” Matthew 11:28 NIV

"Do you ever feel weary, like you are trying to solve the world’s problems, and it’s just too much?” I inquired of my friend over coffee one morning. Smiling, she replied, “Sometimes, but I am sure you do because you feel everyone’s problem is yours.”

Earlier that month, I shared my ministry frustrations with my husband. I felt particularly disappointed after an event I helped host at the church, which, in my opinion, had flopped. Taking it personally, I shamefully informed the Lord, “I am exhausted from this, so it is someone else’s turn to step up to the plate because I am taking a break.”

Little did I know that the next week, within days of each other, we would learn that two close friends of ours passed away. To say that this sad news rocked my world was an understatement. I couldn’t help but wonder if I could have done more for them. I was reminded of the verse in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” I prayed, “Lord, I am burdened and weary and do not see a time when I can rest. Please show me how I can rest in You and do Your work.”

I didn’t need a break from ministry and serving others; I needed a perspective shift.

Instead of seeing ministering as helpful or loving obedience to God, It was just another task on my spiritual to-do list. I wanted to give up on people after there was no evidence of changes in their behavior or lifestyle, and this is precisely what our greatest enemy wants us to do and believe: that our actions for God are meaningless and useless.

Satan wants us to give up, to cease fighting for souls around us, and especially to stop encouraging other Believers in Christ. Jesus called Satan the father of lies, one who seeks to devour us, to tear us down in mind, heart, and spirit, crippling all efforts to bring God glory.

True, we may never witness the lasting impressions a kind word, a note, or a meal leaves on people -- the smile directed to a woman in the grocery store who is in an abusive relationship, the money sent to a nearby family who struggles to pay bills or the hug given to a grieving parent. In a world of instant gratification, we want to know right then and there that our actions have meaning and produce results. I, indeed, am guilty of this.

One of the friends referenced above was a firm Believer, and I always knew what a blessing she was to others, but in days and weeks after her death, the stories of her never-ending compassion and love for others poured out. On the surface, her acts of kindness appear to be small and simple; she probably had no idea of their effect, but no doubt, they had a vast, eternal impact on the lives she touched. I remember distinctly the day she asked me to pray about her fostering a child. Astonished, I exclaimed, “Are you crazy? Why would you, a young, single, small business owner with many things going on, want to take on that?” She just smiled, “Because there is a child out there who needs my help, and I feel God calling me to do more.”

This sister in Christ was not living for herself or man’s approval but for God. She put others first and her comfort second, a true testimony of Christ in her life. When I want to settle back to give someone else a go because I’m tired or discouraged, I will think about Christ’s love for me and my sorely missed friend, who, though weak and weary, faithfully lived this command.

Intersecting Faith and Life:

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by trying to meet everyone’s needs? Take some time today and pray that the Lord will give you strength and encouragement as you joyfully serve Him and His people.

For Further Reading:

Finding Joy in Thankless Work

Colossians 3:23-24

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

368. 在秋天，我们一起聊聊食物，就十分美好

看理想2024开学季福利 | 精选节目限时折扣，学生专享畅听月卡

本期是线下录制专栏“naive一会儿”第6期，这个专栏刚好上线整一年。

“naive一会儿”第4期嘉宾、北京师范大学心理学部教授彭华茂关于老年心理的节目《当你老了：老年心理学30讲》终于在看理想app上线了，欢迎感兴趣的朋友订阅收听。

9月22日是秋分，前阵子看到有听友留言“那个上海种菜的老师好久不见了～可以请他回来吗？不过秋天他可能有点忙....”。

倒也不是不行。

秋天是收获的季节（朗诵腔），复旦大学文史研究院副研究员、在崇明岛种菜三年的段志强老师首次以美食博主的身份来到naive理想国·北京郎园店，和录制现场的朋友们一起聊了聊那些跟秋天、食物有关的故事：

有农村生活经历的人，记不记得小时候的秋收场景？

在养种作物的过程中，有哪些不易？

吃东西方面，有哪些不能将就的地方？

在成长过程中哪样食物令你念念不忘？

有没有自创的美食做法？

...

本期参与

|嘉宾|

段志强，复旦大学文史研究院副研究员，看理想《白银时代旅行史》节目主讲人

|海报|

小简（naive理想国）

|主播|文案|制作|

颠颠，看理想音频编辑，播客《看理想圆桌》制作人&主播

录制地点

naive理想国·北京郎园店

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