Every area of my life was shaken. Depression invaded my soul and brought torment to my mind. I wondered, Where are you, God, in all this? It was a sharp contrast to where I had been just three weeks earlier.

Crossing the threshold of an open door for ministry, I was full of energy and exuberance. An article I wrote caught the attention of a man heading up a ministry to women in prison. The phone rang, we talked, and before I knew it I was on a plane to meet with him and the ministry staff. I felt honored. Why then the painful thoughts I could no longer ignore?

It made no sense in view of what I felt was the Lord’s message to me while on this trip: “I will not overwhelm you.” So what happened? I was overwhelmed and consumed by the work. What went wrong? Wasn’t I putting my hand to God’s work?

It happened because I was blinded by zeal, and in desiring to serve and use my gifts, I jumped into every task set before me. Failing to seek God’s direction in this ministry left me feeling alone and lacking his partnership. Psalm 16:6 says, “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.” The burden of the work I had committed to, however, was not pleasant. When God draws the boundary line for us, the work he appoints, though not always easy, will bring delight.

Like children who need to grow in their understanding of appropriate and safe boundaries for behavior, we need to move within the boundaries God sets for us. Jesus modeled this when he said, “I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me” (John 8:28). Jesus stayed within the boundaries of his Father’s direction.

When we step outside of God’s boundaries we will experience consequences that affect us physically, emotionally, financially, relationally, or spiritually. We may feel burdened and experience a lack of joy, fulfillment, and purpose.

The consequences King Saul experienced for acting outside God’s boundaries serve as a sober warning. While the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel, the prophet Samuel instructed Saul to wait seven days, at which time he would come to offer up the burnt offering (see 1 Samuel 13). Saul waited seven days, but he did not wait long enough into the day. Seeing his men quake with fear and scatter, he moved out ahead of God and offered the burnt offering himself. Samuel arrived just as Saul finished (vv. 7-10). Saul was then confronted by Samuel for not obeying the command of the Lord, and the consequences were severe: the kingdom would be taken from him and given to another. Why?

Saul was appointed as king, not priest. These offices were distinct from one another, and to cross the line from one to the other violated God’s prescribed order. Saul had no authority to act as a priest and offer the burnt offering, which reveals a biblical principle: we have no responsibility or right to act where we have no authority.

The pride of Saul’s presumption got him into trouble. David prayed in Psalm 19:13, “Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression” (English Standard Version). Barnes’ commentary note on the word “presumptuous” is revealing. He writes, “the reference is particularly to sins which proceed from self-confidence, from reliance on one’s own strength.”

In Exodus 18:13-24 we find Moses judging disputes between the people from morning until evening. Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.” He told Moses the work was too heavy for him and he could not do it alone. He advised Moses to teach the people the laws of God and to make known to them the way they were to walk. Moses was then to select able men who feared God to rule over the thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens—a designated degree of authority. The major disputes would still come to Moses.

Moses received wise counsel because he was humble in heart; otherwise, he would have resisted and acted as though the work belonged to him. The work, however, did not possess him; God had possession of Moses. Moses’ response reminds us that we are a body; there are no lone rangers in the body of Christ.

Jesus sent his 12 disciples out to minister, but he gave them specific instructions and parameters for ministry. Matthew 10:5-13 tells us they were to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. They were told who to serve and how to serve—to preach, heal the sick, and raise the dead. Though Christ’s instructions are not always in line with our desires, they always have purpose, as in the case of Legion.

Mark 5:1-20 tells about a man possessed by a legion of demons. Once set free he wanted to accompany Jesus, but Jesus said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (v. 19, New International Version). The man may have felt reluctant, but he was obedient: “So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed” (v. 20). The people knew this man, but now with the transforming touch of Jesus, they saw a new man, an opportunity they would have missed had he departed with Jesus.

Jesus also set limitations for the disciples, as seen in Mark 6:31-37. The disciples had been so busy ministering that “they did not even have time to eat.” Jesus saw they were tired and said, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while” (v. 31, New American Standard Bible). The crowds followed and Jesus began to teach them many things. The disciples caught up with Jesus later “when it was already quite late,” indicating they had their time of rest while Jesus taught (v. 35).

Scripture is clear that we need to rest in his presence and wait on the Lord. By taking time for refreshing and listening to our body, mind, and God’s Spirit within us, we will become more mindful of God’s instructions and know when he’s pulling us back for rest.

As one who has too often stepped outside of God’s boundary lines, I know it is important to learn how to do God’s business as opposed to being buried in busyness.

God desires that his whole body function in a healthy manner. Ephesians 4:16 says, “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (NIV). As each part does its work—this is God’s business; it involves all of the members of his body taking their place and operating in their areas of giftedness. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 that the body is made up of many members, just as our physical body is made up of many parts.

The big toe may seem insignificant, but when I had surgery on the joint in my big toe, and as I entered into physical therapy, I quickly realized how essential the big toe is for balance. When I was asked to stand on my foot alone, I couldn’t do it without holding onto something. I had no balance because the joint in the toe was not functioning properly. The joint had to regain flexibility, and the surrounding muscles had to be strengthened before I could maintain balance on foot.

Joints permit movement while ligaments provide stability and support, and control the range of motion. Without the proper functioning of ligaments, the joints weaken and the movement for which they were designed is hindered. So it is in the body of Christ; we are interdependent.

How does the body effectively engage in God’s business? We work within his boundaries. We repent of pride, receive wise counsel, follow the instructions of Jesus, and retreat into rest when needed. We release others into his work, do our part, and as we “have equal concern for each other,” God will build his kingdom (see 1 Corinthians 12:25). |L