Raise your hand if you've ever been afraid to tell someone 'no'. Keep it raised if you've ever cringed at the thought of disappointing someone; if you've ever extremely inconvenienced your own life in order to maintain a person's acceptance of you. My hand would be waving in the air like a maniac. #Guilty
I speak from personal experience when I say that seeking and maintaining approval from others can be detrimental to your own health. I understand the wanting to say yes to everyone who needs your help or your attention, but I also understand the weight that builds from constantly stretching yourself thin in order to keep others happy. As a servant for Christ, I believe He wants me to reach out in service. However, he never called me to be a people pleaser. It isn't my job, or yours, to be accepted by everyone around us. Galatians 6:2 states, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." You are probably thinking to yourself, "Where in the world is she going with this?" Hang tight.
Service is fantastic, but so is rest in the Father's presence. We need to focus on spending time investing in ourselves and simply soaking in His presence- listening to Him. If we don't take the time to fill ourselves up, what then do we have to give away? God is a jealous God, He wants to spend time with us and reveal His heart to us. It is in Him that we grow and are reminded of our identity. That identity isn't determined by the approval of others or the amount of work we do. We need that time of rest with Him on a daily basis to be refilled in order to fill others.
Creating a healthy balance between service and rest leads to a healthy outreach and spiritual growth. Boundaries are healthy, and so is saying 'no' to a service opportunity in order to prevent yourself from stretching to the point of breaking down. We can't advance for the kingdom of God unless we are equipped and refreshed by Him alone. Create that balance in your life. Make a point to spend time with the Father and be filled with His presence. Rest is just as important as service, so don't feel bad for saying no.
