Let It Go: Learn to Trust the One Who Holds Everything Togetherಮಾದರಿ

Striving is Stressing You Out!
By: Ashlee Beasley

"Can I make lunch for you and your team?" She asked with her hand on my shoulder.

I had been leading our local women's ministry in my military community. We gathered the women in our neighborhood every Thursday for a weekly Bible study. It took a team of 15 incredible women to prepare for and pour into nearly 75 women every week.

My sweet friend, Renee, was there every week faithfully serving, leading Bible studies, watching babies, and loving our fellow military wives in the trenches.

Her son was grown and out of the home, and her invitation was simply to come and rest.

"Wow, that would be so lovely. Can we bring anything?" I asked.

"No." She said, "I'll have everything covered."

I got there early and was met by beautiful tablescapes, a bounty of food, and a decadent scent of something warm and delicious pouring from the kitchen.

I settled into the corner of her leather couch that enveloped me in its cushions as I sat down.

My husband was home with the kids.

The details of the afternoon were covered, and I could finally let go.

Relief washed over my body, and my shoulders loosened their grip. I watched Renee prepare to serve the women she loved and was overwhelmed with gratitude.

As I rested on the couch, the Lord spoke to me.

"This is what I do for you. When you rest, I take care of everything on your behalf."

My eyes filled with tears. I was overwhelmed by love. We were lavished with generous hospitality and a delicious meal, and she wouldn't even let us clean up the mess.

Everything and everyone was taken care of despite my belief that I had to take care of everything and everyone. And that's when I realized that striving was stressing me out. It wasn't just about the team or my leadership position; it was everything I was emotionally responsible for at home.

Do you find yourself there, too, military wife?

You think of every detail that no one sees, and it feels like you're the last link in a chain with nobody after you to pick up the slack. Not because they don't care, but simply because you hold it all together. If you let go, drop a ball, aren't good enough, don't show up enough, or don't have it all together, it feels like everything might actually fall apart.

You're tangled up in the lies of striving, and it's burning you out. It’s also an indication you don’t actually trust God to do His part.

Don't beat yourself up; it can happen to anyone. Striving occurs when we forget that the Lord has absolute power, real control, and unwavering faithfulness.

Striving happens when we forget that God is trustworthy and will fulfill every promise He has made.

Striving happens when we believe that it all begins and ends with us. In reality, nothing could be farther from the truth, and praise God for that.

Jesus gives us the promise of life in Him, and that isn’t you only hanging by a thread.

Just like Renee had to shoulder the burden of everything so I could rest, the Lord holds it all together on my behalf. Jesus is over all things, the Creator of all things, and the sustainer of all things, both seen and unseen, even you, military wife.

As you read Colossians 1 today, take note of everything God sustains and has control over. Through prayer, ask God where you are struggling to trust Him and how you can let go.

Nothing we can say has more life and authority than Scripture itself. Take some time to soak in the truth of who God is.