When It Is Hard to Keep Up!

I Love Lucy was a hugely popular TV show back in the fifties. It was decent, family-friendly entertainment. It was television the way American Family Association’s founder, Don Wildmon, thought it should be. His story of fighting for appropriate content on television is chronicled HERE.

I’m guessing you’ve seen a rerun or two of I Love Lucy over the years. There’s one episode that stands out as my favorite. Maybe you remember it. Ricky and Fred watched the home front, while Lucy and Ethel found jobs packaging chocolates.

It seemed like an easy job. They were pleased with themselves, a bit prideful. Their new job was a breeze… until the speed of the conveyor belt picked up. Before they knew it, the chocolates were sprinting down the conveyor belt so quickly that Lucy and Ethel couldn’t keep up. Soon they were stuffing chocolates in their mouths, their clothing, and even their hats.

It was a hilarious episode! Yet if you’re like me, deep down inside you can relate to their difficulty. We too have felt the helplessness that comes when more things are coming at us than we can handle. It’s hard to keep up!

What should we do when life gets like that? I’ve got two thoughts for you to consider in just a moment.

I was studying Mark Chapter 1 recently. It was the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. He and His disciples went to the synagogue in Capernaum on the Sabbath for Jesus to teach. Mark tells us that those listening “were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority” (Mark 1:22).

While Jesus was there, He was approached by a man with an unclean spirit. To everyone’s amazement, Jesus cast out the unclean spirit. The Bible says, “And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee” (Mark 1:28).

Next, we find Jesus entering Simon and Andrew’s house, with James and John. As the sun went down, things picked up. His fame had indeed spread. The sick and the demon-possessed arrived, all seeking the aid of Jesus. “[T]he whole city was gathered together at the door” (Mark 1:33). Imagine the stir in the neighborhood. The confusion. The excitement. We’re told that many were healed that night, and Jesus cast out many demons. It was a busy night for our Lord.

The passage tells us Jesus got up the next morning before dawn and went to a desolate place to pray. Then came Simon. Simon and the others told Jesus that everyone was looking for Him.

It was a new day that brought another wave of people seeking Jesus. Did He rush off to meet them? No, He chose to turn away from them and head toward other towns to preach “for that is why I came out” (Mark 1:38).

It’s interesting and I think instructive to note how Jesus navigated all that He had coming His way. Perhaps we can examine these two days of Jesus’ life to answer the question regarding what we should do when life gets so busy we find it hard to keep up.

Here are two simple observations:

Between the busyness of one day and the hustle and bustle of the next, Jesus made time to pray. He stopped to spend time talking to His Father and listening to His Father. You and I must make time to be alone with the Lord. This is vital to the Christian walk. We need that time with God; those moments of spiritual renewal are priceless. 

We know that when Jesus left without facing those who were looking for Him it was what His Father wanted. “I do always those things that please Him” (John 8:29). The Father had other things that He wanted His Son to do. Surely there will be times like that for us. Someone wants our attention/help, and God doesn’t want us to give it. He has other things for us to do. Ask God to help you discern when to say ‘yes’ and when to say ‘no.’ You may be carrying a load that God doesn’t want you to carry. (Maybe we should pray that our pastors will have discernment in this matter. They have so many things demanding their attention.)

One thing is certain: God’s desire is that His children follow in His Son’s footsteps in these and all matters. And, if we ask our Father to help us to walk that path, we can be confident that He will. Be encouraged.