Scripture: You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out.
The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Exodus 18:18
The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Exodus 18:18
Master Juggler or Not
Years ago, the term “superwoman syndrome” was everywhere. I recall attending a certification course and exploring the topic. We discussed the outward manifestation of this “syndrome”. We learned how it affected women, how women could move beyond this debilitating “condition” to be authentic in their lives and relationships with others.
It’s not uncommon for me to say “my cape is off and my boots are hidden under the bed somewhere.” I usually get a chuckle. But the words are true. I once thought I do it all myself. That is...until nearly everything came tumbling down on my head.
You see, life is like a master juggler. A master juggler can grab various objects and slowly add them into a rotation of items suspended in air, only meeting her hand for a mere second before it’s off again. However, she will miss an important connection should she make one wrong move--a sneeze, a disruption, etc. This connection is the moment when the next item up for grabs is supposed to pass through her hand.
Should she miss it everything--not just the individual item--will start to tumble, leaving her with nothing.
This may not be the case for you. But I’m certain, as I work with women and men, that it’s true for many people. You have everything in the air, praying, you don’t sneeze. Praying that you don’t get sick or that you don’t lose a client. That one mishap would cause everything to tumble down.
Moses was in the desert and his father-in-law, Jethro, visited. Jethro noticed that Moses was not using the resources--people--around him. Moses was attempting to do it all himself.
Jethro expressed his concern, “You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (Exodus 18:18). Moses was a master juggler. The people of Israel depended on Moses and Jethro did not want to see Moses fail by letting it all tumble to the ground.
Moses had a God-given assignment to lead the people out of Egypt. However, as Jethro pointed out, there is no fault in requesting and accepting help to complete the assignment. “If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied” (Exodus 18:23).
Are you a master juggler? Are you an ex-juggler trying to pick up the pieces? Consider Jethro’s advice to Moses, ask for help and submit your requests to God in prayer.
It’s not uncommon for me to say “my cape is off and my boots are hidden under the bed somewhere.” I usually get a chuckle. But the words are true. I once thought I do it all myself. That is...until nearly everything came tumbling down on my head.
You see, life is like a master juggler. A master juggler can grab various objects and slowly add them into a rotation of items suspended in air, only meeting her hand for a mere second before it’s off again. However, she will miss an important connection should she make one wrong move--a sneeze, a disruption, etc. This connection is the moment when the next item up for grabs is supposed to pass through her hand.
Should she miss it everything--not just the individual item--will start to tumble, leaving her with nothing.
This may not be the case for you. But I’m certain, as I work with women and men, that it’s true for many people. You have everything in the air, praying, you don’t sneeze. Praying that you don’t get sick or that you don’t lose a client. That one mishap would cause everything to tumble down.
Moses was in the desert and his father-in-law, Jethro, visited. Jethro noticed that Moses was not using the resources--people--around him. Moses was attempting to do it all himself.
Jethro expressed his concern, “You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (Exodus 18:18). Moses was a master juggler. The people of Israel depended on Moses and Jethro did not want to see Moses fail by letting it all tumble to the ground.
Moses had a God-given assignment to lead the people out of Egypt. However, as Jethro pointed out, there is no fault in requesting and accepting help to complete the assignment. “If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied” (Exodus 18:23).
Are you a master juggler? Are you an ex-juggler trying to pick up the pieces? Consider Jethro’s advice to Moses, ask for help and submit your requests to God in prayer.
Consider and Comment
Are you trying to be a master juggler? What help should you seek? Whose assistance should you seek?
About Our Guest Blogger
Dana Pittman is an author and speaker that enjoys identifying ways to make God’s love real and applicable to everyday life. For more than 10 years, as a marketer and educator, Dana has spent countless hours helping bridge the gap between seekers and the content needed to resuscitate a project or entity. For more information visit http://www.danapittman.com/.
