A mother of three young children, who works part-time,  told me this past week that she wrestles with guilt feelings that she’s not  leading a ministry or serving in some capacity in her church.

“I sometimes wonder if I’m doing enough for God,” she said.

Have you ever found yourself saying that?

We live in a world focused on doing to the point that busyness is our badge of success and multi-tasking in the church is what appears to others — and ourselves — as ultra spiritual. But  although a relationship with the Living God produces a desire to obey Him and serve Him,  that service results in joy and rest, not perpetual stress!

In my book, When Women Long for Rest, I point out that God would rather have us be with Him than do a bunch of things for Him. Jesus proved that when He said the greatest of the commandments was to love the Lord with all our heart and soul and mind, and love our neighbor as ourselves, (Matthew 22:37-39).

As we spend time cultivating a love relationship with God,  we will then know how to serve others and we will be able to discern His gentle voice saying “This is what I have for you” or “Step in and help her with that.” But it will never be at the expense of overlooking our primary responsibilities or feeling over-extended.

Jesus, after all, told His closest followers, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest”  (Mark 6:31), not “Let’s try to cover even more territory today by working even harder!”

If you are a mom with young children, or a woman who works full time, or someone who has her hands full (and who doesn’t these days?), let me remind you of two principles when it comes to doing more for God:

1. Grow in your love for Him and the labor will follow — but in the way He wants, not in the way your guilt determines. As you sit at His feet, He will call you to get up and serve, but not at the expense of overlooking priorities He has placed right in front of you. I often tell a wife her greatest ministry is to support and encourage her husband.  I often tell moms their greatest service to the Lord is raising their own children to love and obey God. And if you have a secular job but feel you need to do more in the church, find that balance so you can still be used effectively no matter where you are.
2. Look for where He is calling you to serve and go where He leads. This is difficult for us, as women, because we tend to be pleasers, enablers, helpers, rescuers. Yes, there are days when you may need to help in the church nursery because someone didn’t show up and you know it’s the right thing to do. But in terms of regular service for the Lord, wait upon God, pray for timing and clarity and walk through the doors that He opens, don’t try to pry them open yourselves. Too many times we find ourselves over-scheduled, over-whelmed and under-nourished, spiritually, because we jumped up to serve somewhere without seeing if that was the best place where God wanted us. (And if you struggle with knowing  where God wants you, the guidelines in When a Woman Discovers Her Dream,  will help.)

Remember, my friend, Jesus did enough to secure God’s forgiveness and acceptance of you. Your service is simply to show your love and obedience. If you are feeling you aren’t doing enough for Him, ask Him to show you where your ministry presently is and to help you sense His nudge when it’s time to take on more.