You Have Room On Your Team

One of the greatest lies anyone can choose to believe, is the idea that you are alone. You are not alone.

As I approach the one year mark of my time as Lead Pastor, I have been intentionally reflecting over the past months, trying to learn all I can from this season. One of the greatest fears I have felt, as I am sure many Pastors struggle with, is the thought, "What if not enough people are there to help?". There is so much to do, so many things to accomplish, and the idea of doing them on my own is overwhelming.

The reality is, this thought process translates pretty easily to life. We can begin to think, "What if no one is there to help?". There are so many things we walk through in life, and the idea of doing them on our own is overwhelming.

Because of our fear, many of us react first to avoid the let down. We do things on our own because we are sure no one will help. We don't ask for help, because we prefer to carry the weight on our own, over reaching out and finding that no one is willing to assist us.

Christianity is first and foremost about our personal relationship with Jesus; but a close second, is about our relationship with each other. We are supposed to walk through life together.

In Psalm 133:1 it says, "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity."

Living "together in unity", is not the same as existing geographically near each other, while living in solitude.

We are supposed to share each other's burdens Galatians 6:2, encourage each other 1 Thessalonians 5:11, and forgive each other when we mess up Ephesians 4:32. 

The trick to all of this is... you have to let people close enough to share with them, you have to be vulnerable enough to encourage them, and committed enough to forgive them. That is messy, and at times, really hard.

It is also completely worth it.

Let me encourage you with this. First you have to be willing to give people a try; maybe for the thousandth time or maybe for the first time. Either way, choose to step out and risk a little, and be ready to forgive.

In order to have people walk with you in this life; you have to be willing to let them on your team. Which means admitting you want them around, and that you have room for them.

Trust me, no matter how many people are in your life, you have room on your team for more.

Just Take A Step

Sometimes I find myself looking at a list I have compiled of all the things I need to do, or want to do, or would like to do; and I realize I have no idea where to start. 

Much like the cliche, I am looking at this cooked elephant sitting on my plate, and for the life of me, I can't think of a way to eat it.

At the end of this last year, God spoke to me about some of the things He was wanting to refine in me, and some things He is wanting to develop in me. I was so excited and encouraged to hear it. 

Yet I am finding, that as time passes, those words that were once so encouraging to me, are turning into impossible feats that are hard to stomach. How will I ever get from where I am, to where God wants me to be?  

Today God is reminding me that it was never His plan for me to be overwhelmed about the future. In fact, that is the exact opposite of His desire for me. God desires that I rest in His promises, rest in His provision, rest in His help. 

We all need to spend more time looking at the next step God puts before us, and less time looking back at the previous steps we may have missed, or even the steps way ahead of us. 

In Matthew 6:34 it says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." 

I have to chuckle as I read this verse. Although this verse is certainly meant to be an encouragement to us, it is also a sobering reminder that to walk through a day, is to walk through trouble. 

So as you walk through today, let me encourage you, just look at what God has placed right in front of you. Don't look back, don't look too far forward. Live in this moment, God will give you what you need for this moment. 

I am praying for you... right now. :)