What’s on your mind?
For most of us, the answer is “Too much!” Most of the time, our hearts and minds are filled with an overload of different concerns, worries, needs, plans, struggles…and hopefully a few things we’re thankful for!
In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul defends his status as a servant of Christ by listing all the hardships he has faced. Most are physical persecutions and dangers that we’ll likely never endure. But at the end, he shares something we can all relate to: “And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches” (v. 28). Paul has planted churches and is caring for leaders all over the region, and he is filled with concerns for them. Of course the word “anxiety” mostly has negative connotations, but the Greek word can also mean the more general “concern” (as the CSB and NIV translate). Paul has a lot of concerns on his heart and mind!
While we don’t want to be filled with fear or anxiety, if we love people and are involved with the needy world around us, we’ll have many concerns. And yet, we can’t treat every concern the same. I have found it helpful to categorize my concerns so I can better prioritize the things on my mind and manage how to think about them.
Leaders tend to distinguish between Problems to Solve and Tensions to Manage in their organizations and teams. But I need more categories! Consider these four types of concerns:
Problem to Solve: Often when we are burdened by a need in our lives, it is a problem to solve. If your car won’t start, and you need to get to work, this is a genuine problem and you need to come up with the best solution. In many ways, of all the things that weigh on you, the ones that are easily identifiable as problems are the simplest to tackle. But we can’t oversimplify life and address every person or challenge as though it is a problem to solve. This is not helpful.
Tension to Navigate: Many of the things that weigh on our heart shouldn’t be viewed as problems, but tensions. You don’t solve a tension – you navigate through it. For instance, if you work closely with a team member who has a drastically different personality and approach than you, that will be hard. You might spend a lot of time thinking or even worrying about the relationship. But if you view your coworker as a problem that you need to fix, you might make it worse! Rather, you need to consider how you can navigate through this tense relationship in a way that alleviates stress for both of you and promotes productivity on the team.
Brokenness to Grieve: Again, many of us have a big list of things that weigh on our minds and hearts. Some of these concerns aren’t problems or tensions, but the heaviness of the fallen world around us. The world is full of the darkness of sin, sickness, hardship, and pain. Whether it is someone near and dear to us or something we read in the news happening on the other side of the world, it can fill our head space. But if a friend has cancer, or there is famine in another country, these are issues far beyond what we can solve or navigate. The appropriate response is to grieve. We should feel sad. We should cry out to God in lament. This is a very different approach than trying to solve a problem or navigate tension. Understanding the difference can be very freeing.
Opportunity to Engage: Lastly, sometimes our concerns aren’t problems, tensions, or hardships – sometimes they are opportunities! You don’t solve an opportunity, you engage with the person or situation. You invest time and energy to make the most of what is before you. You might be constantly thinking about your daughter who just got her first job. But rather than feel worried, look at this as an opportunity to mentor her in good work habits. Maybe you have a new person on your ministry team with no experience. Don’t get stressed, this is an opportunity to train them. You might keep noticing that your neighbor’s kids have been leaving toys in your yard. Don’t get annoyed, this is an opportunity to build a relationship. Seeing these situations in a new light doesn’t mean they go away, but it can dramatically change the way you think and act.
We all feel the daily pressures of the cares and concerns in our lives. Instead of trying to fix everything or just feeling overwhelmed, take some time to pause. Analyze all the various people and situations you are thinking about. Discerning which of these four categories your concern is in doesn’t make it go away, but it can give you the proper approach and alleviate worry.
No matter what – whether it is a problem, tension, brokenness, or opportunity – we need to take it to the Lord. Prayer is a critical part of each of these approaches. God’s Spirit can guide us through any of things that weigh on our hearts and minds. You need to be continually “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Pt. 5:7). We can’t occupy ourselves with things beyond our control. We need to rest in him like a child with his mother. Mediate on the words of Psalm 131.
“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.”
For more on this topic, check out these posts:
The Path to Perfect Peace
Quiet My Soul
Rest for Your Soul
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