For many more years to come...

In a recent blog, Jimmy Needham explained the reason for the delayed release of his upcoming album. Back in May we were privileged to have this Gospel artist in our church where he performed some of the new music that will soon be released. At that time Jimmy and his team were also planning to release a Christmas EP in time for the holidays. Unfortunately, as Jimmy has recently shared, he damaged his voice a couple months ago while trying to complete the album, and full-recovery has been a slow process. (If you would like to read the post for yourself, you can click on this link.)

I admire Jimmy’s candid honesty, and wholeheartedly believe that the “Cross exalting” nature of his work has brought attack from the enemy, yet there was another part of his post that really stuck out to me. It is an idea that I pray you and I will mull over and contemplate. It is an intentional, focused game plan that is quite different from the cultural norm. In his address to his family of listeners and supporters, Jimmy describes why he has been so patient as to not rush his recovery. “I want to be writing and singing songs for God’s glory and your joy for many more years to come. These hard decisions have been made with that in mind.”

Did you catch that? Jimmy Needham is not just thinking about right now. He is not just looking to cash-in on the present. He’s not simply throwing his energy and resources about aimlessly. No, in fact his desired goal is quite contrary to such an approach; he is positioning himself to be sharing the gospel through song for many years to come. In order to do that, he must be okay with finding proper rest so that the healing of his vocal chords may take place.

Good for Jimmy you say, but what does that have to do with me? Well, to get to the point, let’s consider his statement along with a thought from Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor of Teaching at The Village and President of the Acts 29 Network. During a message preached at Catalyst ATL last month, Matt said this: “If we are to run this marathon, we are to be serious about rest.” He was referring to the marathon call of ministry, and he clarified that he was not merely talking about vacations and only one’s physical health, but rather how one tends their own spirit by finding rest in the Lord.

May we think on this for just a bit? Truly, are we living with this kind of perspective? Are we just surviving or toiling to make the most of right now at a detriment to our current health and future longevity? I pray it isn’t so, yet personally, I must confess that I have felt the tension. I have gone through extended seasons of running about at an unhealthy pace, both physically and spiritually. I’ve neglected my need for rest and relaxation, yet even worse, I’ve taken for granted my soul’s desperate longing to find spiritual rest in the finished work of the cross.

Now because I have implicated myself, I must also reveal what was at the root of such misguided striving. When I traced my motives back I discovered that I had placed my hopes in my own abilities and effort. Of course, I never said it like that. No, it essentially involved me thinking much more highly of myself than I should’ve. “If I’m not there, it won’t be able to happen…or it won’t turn out right…they need me.” Friend, if ever you find yourself belonging to a ministry that is being held together by you, you might ought to reevaluate that ministry. Either Christ holds all things together (Colossians 1:17) or we deceive ourselves. If ever you hear yourself being unable to back your family out of a prior commitment because your presence or involvement is more important than the safety and sanity of your own wife and kids, perhaps you have gotten off-center. For if we are unable to find rhythm, rest, and balance – if we are unable to say “no” to some things today, we may not be healthy enough to offer much help tomorrow, and we may not even be around to say “yes” in the years to come.

I’m not being melodramatic. I’m speaking from experience with this issue. I’m sharing from recent personal miscues in this specific area, and I’m pleading that we might slow down and contemplate our pace and evaluate whether or not we are relying upon God for our daily sustenance or testing Him by hazardously pushing our limits over and over again. Could the Lord take me home later today or tomorrow or the next? Of course He could! He is God. That ability comes with His Almighty title. Yet, wouldn’t wisdom call us to faithfully prepare to live as though that is unlikely – that Lord willing, we will be growing in grace and our knowledge of Him for years to come – that we will be seeking to bring Him glory for the rest of our days?

My point is this: if we are burned-out, too busy, foolishly dependent upon ourselves, will we be in a position to make much of our King Jesus? We know the answer. So what must change? For me, I’ve realized that at times I place unnecessary pressure upon myself, and my family. I’ve been “guilted” into participating in certain things, and I’ve cared way more about how I will be viewed than how I actually am.

If this isn’t a hundred meter sprint, but rather a marathon, we must work to find the right pace. This is for our physical and spiritual good, both for today, and Lord willing, tomorrow. Ultimately, finding a healthy pace is our hearts way of acknowledging God as God. It allows Him to be our portion. It takes the trust of others (namely ourselves) and places it rightly on the One who is faithful. It also replaces our crummy motivators of fear and significance, with a clear and powerful grace-driven effort.

This may just be for me. I can tell you that many Mondays wind up that way, where this preacher uses this blog to speak truth back to myself. Yet today, if this topic resonates with you at some level, spend some time in thoughtful evaluation. This is one of those issues worth wrestling with. It deserves to be handled rightly. While our ministry and witness to others might be hindered when we are out of whack, let us not forget our individual health and the vitality of our families. Oh, that we might be preaching the Gospel, singing Christ-exalting songs, and seeking to bring Him glory for many more years to come.

Matt Fowler - NBC Family Pastor of HS