Resting at Work: It is Possible - Part 2

Last week, we discussed "Resting at Work" and how it does not mean neglecting our responsibilities. Instead, it is about resting in the Lord while we do our best with tasks, demands, and challenges. We have things to do, deadlines to meet, and colleagues who may disagree with us. They are all things that can interrupt a smooth workday. (By the way, if there is such a thing!) Last week, we considered what makes us weary or burdened. It may be something that just occurred or a long-standing unresolved issue. It could just be too much to do. We were to write down three things that make us weary and burdened. As I reflected on my own business, areas that can burden me include: 1. Miscommunications among staff or patients 2. Cash flow issues 3. Hiring new staff that will fit into the clinic's culture and works well with staff. Do any of those three areas resonate with you? Number 1 is prevalent amongst all of us. Miscommunications can lead to conflict situations which are even more burdensome. Obviously, it is best to minimize these miscommunications by having clear policies and procedures, communicating regularly, and asking God to help us discern if there are changes in behavior or stress, among others.

However, despite our best efforts and intentions, misunderstandings can occur. How can we rest in God when these misunderstandings are causing stress or conflict? There are really three things for us to do. Two are found in Micah 6:8, and one is found in Matthew 11:28-29 and Mark 6:31. When we are dealing with a human resource issue, whether a "sense of something is not quite right" or it is escalating to a conflict, we must commit to:

1. Doing the right thing

2. Doing the right thing with grace and kindness

3. Doing the right thing by being in His presence before, during, and after decision-making and conversations.

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29) "Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31) "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)

The first step is to seek God.

Unfortunately, this can sometimes be the last resort instead of the "first resort." The Lord promises He will give us rest when we seek him (2 Chronicles 14:7), and we are to eagerly seek Him (2 Chronicles 15:15). How lovely and encouraging to know He tells us to eagerly seek Him!

Step 2: When we remember God is sovereign, good, loving, and wise, we can rest in Him.

He has told us in Micah 6:8 what He requires from us: to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with Him. We can rest in knowing what He requires, and we can rest when we know we have done that to the best of our ability. Then, we can “let God be God." We can rest in that because He has told us to do so, as we experience the peace and security which He has promised us.

Taking This to God in Prayer

Lord, there are many issues I am dealing with. Right now, I am bringing this situation to You. This burden is really tiring me and weighing me down. Help me to remember to go first into Your Presence before I try to figure it out as well as when it comes to my mind and heart. You have promised that, when doing this, I can have rest that only You can give. I claim this promise. When I am in Your Presence and quiet before You, Lord, please show me the right thing to do, as well as how to do it with grace and kindness. Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness and what You will show me as I look to You for direction. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

I wish you a wonderful and restful week at work. God Bless! Bonny, Christian Women at Work

Resting at Work: It is Possible!

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

As you read this title, you may wonder how anyone can rest at work! If we consider "resting at work" as the same as "napping on the job," then we risk being dismissed or, at the least, reprimanded. That kind of "rest at work" would not be a popular attitude for an employer or manager to witness. However, as you know, this is not the kind of rest we are talking about.

What does it mean to rest in God at work? Resting in God means having a deep sense of peace, despite work responsibilities, demands, stresses, and conflicts. Instead of reacting with worldly principles, it means using God's principles.

As I think about my past week at work, I recognize that the pressure of the moment(s) often overshadowed the peace God wanted me to have. As I dealt with the continued aftermath of COVID, unwell staff, how to word a job advertisement or how to complete everything I needed to do, I must be honest and say there were many times I needed to remember that Jesus said to go to Him when I was feeling "weary and burdened." I continued to try to rush through the day and be effective, and allowed myself to become "unrested" to say the least. If I had turned to God more often during the day, acknowledged He was in control, and had all the answers, I would have experienced rest from the pressures of my day.

God's rest does not mean an absence of the measure of responsibility I have, but rather, it means that God's measurement of true rest is sufficient for each task. And that measurement is the percentage of the day I turn to Him and remain in relationship with Him.

Knowing how to rest in God leads to less stress, more peace, productivity, and more opportunities to witness. And how can we reach that rest at work? Jesus tells us that He will give us rest. We just need to receive his instruction and go to Him.

It is tough to be at your best when you are not healthy or rested. What kinds of tasks, responsibilities, relationships, or decisions at work are making you weary and burdened? These are the reasons you must enter God's rest, or they will lead to fatigue, stress, and inefficiencies.

• God has answers for you: you need to go to Him.

• God has direction for you: you need to go to Him.

• God has principles for you: you need to go to Him.

• God has the peace you long for: you need to go to Him.

This week, consider what areas of your work make you weary or burdened.

• Is it something that has just occurred, or is it a long-standing issue that needs to be resolved?

• Is it a personal issue that fatigues you, so you are weary before you even get to work?

• Is it just having too much to do? Write down three things that are making you tired.

Over the next few weeks, we will dive deeper into God's Word on entering His rest. This week, I hope you will pray the following prayer in preparation for learning how to enter His rest more often, more thoroughly, and more thankfully.

Taking This to God in Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promises and loving guidance. As your child, I know that true rest comes only from You. Forgive me for all the times at work I either forget this or try to do it on my own. I know this leads to fatigue and stress. When I look back on Your faithfulness under challenging situations, I can see Your hand at work in ways I could not ever have imagined would be possible. You opened and closed doors that I can see now needed to be opened and closed. This week, I pray for Your guidance and rest for what is most on my heart right now. When I start to feel tension, unrest, or anxiety at work, help this to be my cue to automatically turn to You for help, so I can honor You, bless others and be in Your rest. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

I wish you a wonderful, restful week at work. God Bless,

Bonny, Christian Women at Work

Expressing the Fruit of the Spirit at Work

Your workplace is likely a wide variety of people from many backgrounds, with different skill sets and assorted ages. Over the past years, I have found this to be true. So, how can we demonstrate our faith at work in the middle of such a kaleidoscope of humanity?

There is a passage in Galatians 5:13-26 that has become essential to me in how I minister to those I work alongside or serve using my skills - whether answering phone calls or emails, billing a health plan, or serving a cup of coffee, a muffin or a scone.

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." (Galatians 5:13-15 NIV)

There are 2 main phrases to keep an eye on and memorize in those verses:

*SERVE ONE ANOTHER HUMBLY IN LOVE

- let your motivation be as God's, to do all things out of a foundation of love.

*LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF

-treat others the way you would like to be treated

How can we best do so? The key is found in the following few verses:

"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." (Galatians 5:16-18 NIV)

Did you spot it?

*WALK BY THE SPIRIT

When we are led by the Spirit, we will follow His direction, not our own. Why is this important?

"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

These verses explain how acting out of our flesh or selfish desires results in chaos and discord. If everyone in our workplaces actively does this, it will make for a very non-cohesive workplace, where distrust and self are first and foremost.

This is the very opposite of God's Kingdom, which we find laid out in the final four verses of this passage:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." (Galatians 5:22-26 NIV)

And the key point of these verses?

*SINCE WE LIVE BY THE SPIRIT, LET US KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT.

And since the Spirit's fruit is:

✅LOVE

✅JOY

✅PEACE

✅ FORBEARANCE (LONG-SUFFERING OR PATIENCE)

✅KINDNESS

✅ GOODNESS

✅ FAITHFULNESS

✅ GENTLENESS

✅ SELF CONTROL

We release more of His Kingdom around us when we express these in our workplace through our words and actions.

Over the next 9 months, I will take a closer look at each of the 9 fruit of the Spirit, one per month. Please join us as we learn more about the fruit and how to keep in step with the Spirit in our workplaces.

Karla Lees, Christian Women at Work