Sometimes I worry that the events I organise won't go the way I envision. That the ideas I have won't impact the people the way that I imagine it will.
It's so much easier to be a follower. To go along with whatever someone else organises. It's easier for me to support those that are in leadership than to be a leader myself. It's also easier to criticise those in leadership. I have thoughts about how someone could have done it better or ideas about how I would execute a particular event. I'm not talking about politics, I'm talking about the church.
Local Church
The local church has so many events that they run (at least at my church). It was easy for me to sit in the congregation and critique those that led whatever event I just attended. I would often walk out of the service thinking, "That was nice, but they could have done this or that." "Or if only they did THIS ONE THING it would have made this evening much better."
I have now entered onto the flip side. I am now the one that is helping to plan those events. And what have I found? Pressure. Pressure to perform, pressure to put on the best event possible, pressure that each person would feel welcome. I want the event to be great and not just another social activity that people go to. On a side note, in the western culture that I reside, I think we need more social activities, not less.
Holding onto a burden
I grabbed a burden and held onto it. I've taken something and put it on myself. I didn't even do it on purpose. Have you ever felt yourself in this place? That it all rides on you and if it doesn't go well, its your fault? Or even if it goes well, it still wasn't enough?
Reliance on God
I'm sure there are many aspects and answers to the question that I named this article. There are many ways in which we don't rely on God. Here are two ways in which we can rely on God more.
Rest
The first is an Old Testament command by God. Exodus chapter 20 verse 8 says, "Remember the Sabbath day and make it Holy." Christians are commanded to set aside a day to rest. One of the reasons Christians rest, is to realise that we need God. That God is the one that does the work.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 6, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow."
When we rest, we are acknowledging that the outcome doesn't fall on us. We have the ability to lay the outcome at God's feet.
Giving up
I had a mentor for about two years of my life. He constantly challenged me to a question. We would get together for coffee and he would ask, "Have you given up yet?". Meaning, have you stopped trying to work out of your own strength and your own ability and given it to God?
This was some of the best advice I could have ever gotten. It was advice I needed over and over for two years. I had to come to the realisation that no matter how hard I worked, how many hours I put in or how much I tried, ultimately what I wanted to happen was up to God. Not me.
Challenge for myself and the Christian: Let's learn to rest well. To lay the burdens of our day at God's feet. Let's learn to rely on Him.
Jason LaLone was on staff at YWAM Brisbane and is currently in America working with Truro Anglican Church located in Fairfax, Virginia. He is passionate about discipleship, taking Jesus' command to make disciples a practical reality that he can live on a daily basis. He loves lasagna, cats and used to dislike Monday's, making him most like Garfield.
Jason LaLone's previous articles might be viewed at: http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/Jason-LaLone.html