Four year old Eliana was helping her mum pick up some of Eliana’s things before bedtime. When mummy told her to put away the clothes on her bed, Eliana reached her limit. She turned around, put her little hands on her hips and said, “I can’t do everything!”

Do you ever feel that way with the tasks God has called you to do? It can be overwhelming as we try to balance our military roles with raising a family, serving in a church and living in a godly way. We might sigh in exasperation and pray, “Lord, I can’t do everything!”

Yet God’s instructions show that His expectations are not overwhelming. For instance, as we deal with others, He gives us this condition: “As much as depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Rom. 12:18). God understands our limitations. Or this: “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord” (Col. 3:23). He’s not asking for perfection that we might impress people, but simply to honour Him with the work we do. And one more: “Let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another” (Gal. 6:4). We are not doing our work as a competition with others, but simply to carry our own load.

In wisdom God has equipped us to do just what He wants us to do—and that’s certainly not everything!

Author

Dave Branon

Topics

Our Daily Bread