I’m giving myself permission to slow down for the summer.
There’s only so much of any of us to go around, and that means we have to make choices. I’m there right now. I love ministry and yet I know I need to slow it down. I need to refuel. I need to be with my family right now as we battle together. I’ll still be here every Thursday. I plan to do a video series and I’m excited about that. We’ll grab our coffee cups and Bibles and have an amazing and honest conversation each week.
Maybe you wonder why I have to give myself permission to do this. Well, it looks like this.
Less activity = less ministry or less success or less of [fill in the blank].
Or at least that’s what we tell ourselves. We think that if we aren’t hustling, promoting, speaking, connecting, tweeting, uploading, or hosting an event that somehow a ministry will fade away.
Oh, Father, help us.
You see, ministry isn’t founded on how much I do, but the call on my life and being true to that. It’s God’s plan, not mine.
I love the story of the apostles standing in front of their accusers. They wanted to jail the men, but one person steps up and says something profound.
So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!” Acts 5:38-39 (NLT)
If God is in this ministry, it’s not going to fall apart. If it does fall apart because I slow down, then I needed to put it down. That’s true for you too, my friend. If God is asking you to release something, loose your grip, or slow down, then listen.
Right now, He’s saying that I have to slow it down. To wrap my arms around family as we face cancer together. To give myself permission to fill back up after writing 400,000+ words in the last two years. If I don’t, I’ll get burned out, bummed out, turned around. I don’t want to be that women pretending that I can tell you how to live free if I’m in bondage myself. So my answer to the Lord is joyful surrender.
This is how our summer will look like together.
Each #livefreeThursday I’ll post a video sharing what I’m learning in this “Summer of Permission.” It will be raw, honest, and hopefully there’ll be a takeaway that will help us all live a little more free.
We’ll take a deep breath together each Thursday. We’ll laugh. We’ll dig deep into the Word. We’ll connect. If you aren’t a part of the Living Free Together Facebook community, I hope you’ll “like” that page. It’s just one more way to connect.
I’ll be back in full force in mid-to-late August. We’ll launch a new 21-Day Adventure. We’ll check out my new devotional that will release. We’ll have some fun parties to celebrate the Come With Me Devotional.
For today, I’m inviting you to watch a broadcast with two friends.
Holley Gerth, Jennifer Watson, and I are genuine friends. We have been hanging out for about four years. Six months ago we decided to put some of those hangout times on video and just hold conversations, inviting you in. In this conversation, we talk about what a Summer of Permission might look like for each of us.
The broadcast glitched out in the first few seconds so the intro is a little choppy, but hang in there with us. We get to the good stuff after our “awkward moment” stories.
[bctt tweet=”If a ministry will fall apart because I slow down, then I needed to put it down. #livingfreetogether https://wp.me/p4jbdw-49I” username=”suzanneeller”]
Now it’s your turn
I want to hear your answer. Listen to God for the answer. Don’t be afraid to say yes.
I give myself permission to ________________ this summer.
Suzie
Related resources
- Holley mentioned her summer Bible study.
- Jennifer mentioned her blog series.
Looking for a summer read?
Deepen your walk with Jesus and rediscover him all over again as you read Come With Me: Discovering the Beauty of Following Where He Leads.
[inlinkz_linkup id=720063 mode=1]
Slowing down is the best thing I did and while it feels strange to a girl who is typically “go go go” I trust its what God needed to bring me in step with His will and way. Praying for you dear friend as you battle with your family.
‘Ministry isn’t founded on something I “do”, but the call on my life & being true to that’. Love this! 55 years old & walking with the Lord for 30+ years but I’m learning this!
Suzie, you have been a HUGE blessing to me. I’m praying for you & your family!
Echoing your prayer for help as I teeter back and forth on that tipping point of “working for God” and realizing that the Kingdom of God does not depend upon me for its survival. We can step away and trust Him. Thanks for this reassurance of the truth.
I just retired from teaching 4 year old preschool after 20 years. I didn’t go kicking and screaming; I left in peace because God clearly showed me this was His plan for me! What peace! Now I rest this summer knowing that He has another plan for me and I relax and wait on the next chapter to begin.
God’s blessing be with you on the next season of your life.
I love this post and it resonates as the summer is just starting and I am already feeling a bit overwhelmed- this summer I am focusing on putting the brakes on and slowing down. Thank you for your words – I am looking forward to following along.
My chemo begins June 16th. It will take me through the summer and beyond. I give myself permission to rest in the Lord during this time, defy fear and expect healing to my body. I desire to draw closer to Him and be joyful even on difficult days.
Kim, Praying you receive rest and renewal during this time of chemo. I pray that despite what your body is going through you will feel joy and peace that comes from above. I pray your body receives complete healing. In Jesus name I pray Amen
Praying for you Kim that God bring you healing for your body and soul. May you rest in the fact that God loves you and draws you closer to him.
I need to give up hating myself. I have loathed myself all my life. I keep asking God to come into my life and make me whole. But at the slightest problem, I beat myself up, say horrible things and pray for death. I want to be a Godly woman, but will never be one of His until I stop feeling like I’m worthless and nothing.
Nancy, Lifting you up this morning to our Heavenly Father that you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt how precious you are in his sight. You are cherished and loved-no problem, big or small, can dismiss the love he has for you. Lord, give Nancy a glimpse of what you see when you gaze on her-you created her and she is beautiful in your sight. I pray that you will touch her today in a way that she knows is only from you. Thank you Lord for Nancy and all you are doing in her life-transform her into the woman you created her to be. in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!
Praying for you Nancy that God fill your heart with His loving kindness and lead you in a way that He created you to be. God loves you.
Today I give us permission to take time to heal, both my husband and myself. This has been a tough Physical year for both of us. I had a series of falls since January that has resulted in needing a partial knee replacement and my husband, while doing a DIY project to surprise me, accidentally cut his hand with a table saw necessitating the need to amputate two fingers and start a long rehabilitation of the remaining two fingers. His surgery was 2/13, mine 5/15. We are in physical healing mode. I must add though, it’s been a great place for us spiritually. Our needs are being met, we are closer than ever and we’ve both begun the process to accept what we are not able to do-the yard needs work, the house is messy, making meals has been a challenge but we are thankful for friends who have given us meals. It’s ok for us to take this time to just be and heal. The world keeps spinning and all is well.
I’m so proud of you guys for letting your togetherness take priority and bless others by letting them help you. Be well.
I am giving myself to rest and be still without feeling guilty about. I want to connect with the Sue God created me to be.
Thank you for this thought provoking question.
I commented above about having anxiety since being forced to slow down. Your comment resonates with me in that I don’t want to feel guilty about taking this time. I believe god wants us all to reconnect with the Holy Spirit in all of us. I pray that we can all allow ourselves the space god wants us to have for healing.
This was such a helpful reminder on the sacred discipline of rest before our Heavenly Father. This may sound odd, but I am giving myself permission to slow down and to keep grieving an absent father. I am learning the importance of letting the Holy Spirit keep healing my heart so I can walk in more wholeness in Jesus for the future ahead.
Praying for you that your rest may restore your soul and heal your heart. Jesus has a journey and an adventure for us ahead.
I give myself permission to ________________ this summer. So strange – I did that today. I gave myself permission to let go of a few things. You most reinforced it was the right move. I hate letting go of ministry opportunities. I know I need to be where God called me but I sometimes get it all mixed up. Thank you. Enjoy your summer. Praying for you.
I’m giving myself permission to be available when I’m needed. My 92 year old father is having problems with his heart valve so I need to be ready to go there. My youngest sister has many medical problems and will need surgery once she is strong enough. My daughter is having issues within her head and the drs need to find out what is happening— is it migraines, is there a tumor putting pressure on veins???? Hopefully they will order a MRI soon. I need to be available to be there for her and help with grandchildren. A lot of unknowns.
Praying for you Linda during this trying time. Praying that you have answers for your dad, sister and daughter in order to begin the process of healing.
I have had to let go of a very stressful job and am on short term disability due to anxiety and depression. I am normally very strong and can handle hard things but at 57 and now not working I find myself riddled with anxiety instead of being able to take in gods healing. Please pray that I will get through these anxiety and panic attacks and be able to relax in gods healing.
Kim, I’m thinking about you and praying for you. May our Gracious god be with you and send you a calming and quiet heart.
Debbie. Thank you. Your comment means a lot to me. God bless you for reaching out.
Kim