Skylar's Blog & Podcast

There it is, all innocent...floating in your bathtub. It looks innocent enough. It's yellow, rubbery exterior floating easily over the waves you're making. Is it peacefully enjoying the bath with you...or is it waiting...biding its time...waiting to strike? Maybe you've thought such things of a rubber duck, Elle Uldrich has, and I think it's time we all started really processing the "innocent" things in our lives. What do I mean by "processing?" Well, I will first say that I am completely kidding about feeling paranoid about your rubber duck. However, I am being partly serious about really sitting down and judging the "innocent" and "good" things in your life. Now you're thinking I'm about to drop a conspiracy theory and or I'm about to explain how aliens do exist and unfortunately I am not (how impressed would you be if I did though?...you wouldn't be...ok). What I'm getting at is this: there are good things in your life that probably distract you from what is best for you. What does that mean? Look at the next paragraph!

There is a saying that travels around our church staff frequently. That saying is this: good is most often the enemy of best. That means this, what is good will often get in the way and distract us from what is best. Let me give you an example, in college I started leading a small group for freshman guys and it was awesome! After a few weeks I knew this is what I needed to be doing. I was always totally excited about Wednesday and getting to see my guys. However, a couple of months later some college leaders approached me and asked if I wanted to lead a small group for college guys. I was blown away and honored. I said yes of course, and so began some of the more stressful days of college for me. Oh, and on top of all of that I was going to school, working, and I had a little brother through Big Brother Big Sister. Just writing all that down honestly exhausts me. I have no idea why I thought I could do all of those things, and I definitely did not do any of them well. I was so addicted to the good that I had lost sight of the best.

After a year of stress and mediocre leading I stepped down from being a college small group leader, and I cut back on work. I wish I could say that after that all was well in my world, and I was the greatest High School small group leader and Big Brother. However, I still struggled with doing too much stuff. I want you to learn from my example. Because just like with sex, alcohol, and many other things the Devil has manipulated and perverted even ministry opportunities and turned them into a weapon. You will be presented "good" things to do the rest of your life, and if you get involved in them you will be doing good things that go right along with God's will. However, you will probably be stretching yourself too thin, and you will be cheating yourself and the people who could be truly blessed by you because you're doing so much "good" stuff. I want you to do this right now, really think about what you really enjoy doing and what you are good at. These two things will help show you what you should spend your time doing. Now, think about how you spend your time (even write down the things your involved in during the week). Now, after you have done all of that I want you to pray. This is where Romans 12:1-2 comes in. The only way you will find balance and contentment is if you will submit all of this to God. I know the verse says sacrifice, and this sounds quite painful. However, it is quite pleasurable. Now I sound masochistic. I mean this: if we will submit our talents and our time to God He will guide us into true and fulfilling life. How do I know? He says so, just read Psalms 23 and John 10. We are in a relationship with a good God, and He will lead us to still waters and green pastures. We need not worry about Him leaving us, and even if He feels distant it doesn't mean He is actually far away. Take your time, take your talents, and even take those rubbery little yellow friends in your bathtubs and submit them to God and see what amazing good will come out of your life.