When Planning Steals Your Joy

 

Any planners out there?  I'm one.  I love to plan.  I have daily goals, weekly goals, monthly goals, yearly goals, ....  well, you get my drift.  When I worked outside my home, I'd go into the office before my classes began and make my "to do" list for the day.  And, I'd check it off as the day went on.  I'd also add to it as needed, because let's face it, there's always something else that needs to be done.

As a stay-at-home, home-school mom and wife in ministry, my life may be vastly different than before, but my to-do list still exists.  And, sometimes, I get up in the morning and am already tired just thinking about what I need to get done around the house, with Ethan and Emily's schooling, and in preparing for ministry.  And, sometimes, I'd go to bed at night frustrated because not much got checked off that to-do list that day.  Please tell me you can relate, right???

As I was having one of those days where the to-do list seemed to be getting longer but every interruption kept making me put it off and I just got overwhelmed, frustrated, and started having myself a little pity party.  So, you know what I did?  I sat down on the couch, grabbed my cell phone, and started scrolling through Facebook (spiritual, right?? productive, yes??).  Sometimes, that app makes things worse...but, on this day, I saw a blog and read it and it was just what I needed from God on that day:  a gentle reminder to "do the next thing."

Elisabeth Elliott returned to the field where her husband was killed with her small child and continued the ministry God had given them there.  When asked how in the world she did it--she answered, "I did the next thing." (You can read the entire post here: Interview with Elisabeth Elliott: Do The Next Thing).  It also reminded me that we can plan our ways, but the Lord directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9). 

My days are filled with home schooling responsibilities, household chores, preparing for ministry (usually children's lessons), and managing our home.  Our ministry is very busy with church services five out of seven nights, late nights, and unexpected needs.  There are times when I'm so focused on my to-do list that I forget about why and for whom I'm doing it.  When this happens, the most important thing to do--build relationships with my Savior, my family, and others--falls to the wayside and suffers.

This reminder has been a game-changer for me in my life.  I still make my lists sometimes, but I've stopped obsessing over it.  And, when I do get up in the morning and look around my house and hear my kids make their never-ending petitions and start getting overwhelmed, I remember, "Do the next thing..."

So, single mom trying to hold it all together: do the next thing.  Young wife, going to school, working, and trying to meet the needs of those around you: do the next thing.  Mom of four, five and under, trying to manage your home and meet the demands of those needy, little munchkins: do the next thing.  Pastor's wife, youth pastor's wife, layperson in ministry, when the planning and the weight of ministry overwhelm you: do the next thing. That next thing may mean playing a game with your child, washing dishes, planning a lesson, sitting with someone and drinking coffee, or taking a few moments out of your busy day to simply rest.  Don't be like I was (and still am many days...because I'm just clay being molded in the Potter's Hands...): don't let the tasks of the day steal the joy that day awaits to bring you.  Every day is a gift.  Every cookie baked, conversation had, dish washed, and meal put on the table is a gift given to us by our loving, Heavenly Father.  Resting in Him and allowing Him to guide our steps to complete the next thing He has for us, will bring a daily peace and joy in the mundane and ordinary.  So, make your to-do list if you must, but allow your mind and day to be directed step by step by simply doing the next thing, finding joy in each task and a peace resting in your Savior's strength to get everything accomplished.  And, remember, sometimes that "next thing" that you need to do isn't on that to-do list you've made, and that's okay. It could be divine appointments set up to make the ordinary day extraordinary.