When I am driven by a task I find myself clinging to the false hope that this next attempt will succeed. When it fails I jump immediately to the next attempt. There is no time for reflection and grappling with the big picture.
All this time there is someone watching over my shoulder who has all authority in heaven and earth. If I would only let go of my death grip ‘fix it mode’ and allow myself to be still in His presence. I might discover that His perspective and plans make the need for my drivenness evaporate.
As it is, we are even driven to ‘advance the Kingdom of God’! We are so convinced that we hold the keys, and just need to work out how to use them. In this we fail to respect Jesus. He is a person with dignity, not a tool to be used.
The final sentence of the great commission is,
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:20)
His intent is that life and ministry are opportunities to work together with Him, not things He pushes our way to get on with by ourselves. Let us let go of the drive to achieve and work with Jesus in this rich life He has with us, for He says,
‘take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for … my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ (Matt 11:28-30)