While I was in college, a friend gave me a cartoon that parodied a popular phrase at the time, “Remember, Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” The cartoon depicted a woman talking to an exasperated man in a chair, and the text read, “Just remember, Jesus loves you, and everyone else has a wonderful plan for your life.”
The cartoon was very appropriate during a time when the requirements of multiple syllabi along with the demands of a student pastorate, were significant. Of course, I knew a time was approaching when the demands on my schedule would relent. Decades later, I am still waiting for that time to come.
Most of us know what it is like to wrestle with the expectations of others. Some of those expectations are reasonable, but others are not, and it can be hard to distinguish between the two. Most of us know that fulfilling everyone’s expectations is impossible, yet we often feel driven to accomplish the impossible. Striving for a goal that cannot be met depletes our energy and creates stress – not good fruit for a healthy life.
Boundaries are necessary. We cannot do everything. We were not made to make everyone happy, and we abuse ourselves, and our calling, when we try. Telling someone, “no,” disappointing them, and anticipating the critique that comes when we do is painful and draining, but not nearly as harmful as living outside healthy boundaries.
My personal devotions are coming from the Gospels and the book of Acts. As I look at Jesus’ lifestyle, and that of the early disciples, it is clear that others were not dictating their choices or actions. Jesus was following the agenda set by God, and the disciples were following the example of Jesus, and the direction of the Holy Spirit. The expectations of others were not part of their decision making process. Why do we think that our direction and agenda should be any different?
What if, instead of worrying about the expectations and desires of everyone else, we focused on the leading of the Holy Spirit? What would happen if our greatest concern was how we accomplish God’s plan for our day? The world around us might have wonderful plans for our lives, but God’s plan is perfect.
People may shout, “You need to do this!” while the Holy Spirit may be whispering, “You need to rest and recharge. Come away, sit at the feet of Jesus, and let him renew your soul.” Others may demand we attend meetings and accomplish tasks, while the Spirit may be leading us to be the compassionate presence of Christ to someone in the coffee shop or on the street.
At the end of our lives, we will not be remembered for how many meetings we attended, how many tasks we marked complete, or even how many people got what they wanted from us. We will be known for how we loved God and loved others. Jesus even said these were the two greatest commandments, and I imagine that they will be the metric God uses to assess our lives as well.
Maybe, it is time to let our lives be an example to a stressed-out, hyper-busy, people-pleasing world, by living to please God and enjoying holy peace. The Scripture says, “You will keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is stayed upon you.” (Isaiah 26:3) Let’s fix our eyes on Christ and enjoy some perfect peace.”
