Peace Thieves
Lie: You need to do more.
Truth: You may need to do less in your schedule; you may need to rest more. Not creating margin in your schedule can lead to a lot of stress and lack of peace. Margin leaves time to breath. Some of you are simply over-scheduled.
Lie: You don’t have time to rest.
Truth: God designed a sabbath - a day of rest and worship to remind you that it is HE who has done a great work for you. God told Abraham “I will make you a blessing …” God told Peter “I will make you a fisher of men…” Take time every single Sunday at the beginning of the week reminds us that it is GOD who is at work in our lives, GOD who made us in the first place, GOD who is working in the background therefore I can rest in HIS work and Christ’s completed work on the cross. I have have nothing to prove. I can enjoy resting and doing nothing other than being thankful for my loving Creator, Father!
Lie: You need to have more stuff.
Truth: Simplicity brings a sense of peace. Some people work 60 plus hours so they can have more money for the sake of security - again it’s own problem. Others work 60 plus hours so they can have more stuff - only increasing their debt and subsequently increasing the number of arguments they’ll have over money with their spouse.
Lie: Money brings peace. You need to have more money.
Truth: Knowing Jesus brings peace. He is literally the Prince of Peace. You don’t need any more money to be happy. Contentment is the key. There’s nothing wrong with creating wealth for your future, for your kids, for missions… if you know me, you know that I firmly believe in that. But there’s a difference between wanting money - even craving it for a sense of security - as opposed to creating wealth for the goal of generosity. Those are two very different motives and one brings stress while the other brings peace. Sure, there’s a peace when we save money or create multiple incomes. Even Ecclesiastes tells us not to put all our eggs in one basket. But, assuming more money = more peace has simply proven to be a false narrative. Millions of people have plenty of money and no peace.
Lie: Let others serve me what what they have created.
Truth: There’s a joy and peace that comes in finding my niche and creating something of value for the service of others. I’m writing about this extensively in a new book called Ask Think Imagine. Turns out that doom-scrolling is now proven to increase anxiety, restlessness and depression. Much of what you see on social media is a lie. Those parent highlights are in between a lot of correction, “teaching moments” and hot messes. Seeing couples or parents highlight reels for 45 minutes may unintentionally deceive you into thinking “what’s wrong with our family?” Ironically, peace can come by doing something, making something, in particular if you make something together. Get your spouse or your kids, or both, and make something and find someone to serve.