By: Magen Thetford
“God created us to be human beings, but we often turn ourselves into human doings.”
The comment was made briefly at a recent dinner with friends, and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head.
I recently had my third child and am just barely coming up for air now and then. Yet there is a feeling inside of me that makes me think raising three littles under the age of 4 is not enough. I should be doing more…right?
Because of that haunting feeling, I give a quick “Yes” to any opportunity that presents itself, leaving zero energy for me to do the things God has called me to do.
The trouble is not my desire to do more, but my reasoning. My hidden motivation is often rooted in a desire to please or impress others. In doing this, I completely forget that my identity is found vertically, not horizontally. I seek validation, meaning, and purpose from others instead of pursuing Christ as my sole identity.
Identity is found vertically not horizontally Click To Tweet
Sure, busyness may look impressive to others, but we can easily miss out on God’s best for our lives. Not only do we waste energy to do what God has called us to do, but we miss out on divine opportunities for the Holy Spirit to lead us. After all, how can the Holy Spirit prompt us to call that friend that’s been on our heart for the last week, or share a word of encouragement with a family member or meet a stranger’s need if our schedules remain packed?
I firmly believe that there are three simple (not always easy) steps to knowing and finding the balance of being and doing. Before deciding to add anything to your schedule, we must:
- Ask God for wisdom (James 1:5)
- Wait until He answers (Proverbs 3:5-6)
- Move forward confidently with His answer as you seek His approval (Galatians 1:10)
If the answer is a God-given, “Yes,” then do it with all of your heart.
If the answer is “No,” remember that you are making that decision based on God’s best for your life.
God’s wisdom is a treasure that comes only from Him. With it, He guides us into ultimate peace as we fulfill His calling on our lives. Without it, we are vulnerable to misdirection, emptiness, and zero
God has called each of us to great and purposeful things. Ultimately, when we do what God is asking us to do, He will give us the necessary strength to live this life well (2 Peter 1:3). Let’s do what God calls us to do when He calls us to do it, and reclaim our human being status.
Let's let go of our human doing to reclaim our human being status Click To Tweet
Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash