Permission Granted: Living Well in a Complex and Chaotic World

We live in a fast-paced, push-button, instant-everything world. And it’s not slowing down. There is a very real temptation to say, “Forget carpe diem...give me carpe mañana. I want tomorrow today!”

Part of this phenomenon is cultural, especially here in the United States. And it also has to do with the rapidly changing and evolving technologies all around us. This includes the Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms that are now sweeping across the globe. I often say, we may live in the most technologically connected and sophisticated society at any point in history, but sadly, we also live in the most relationally disconnected and lonely society of all time.

Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” (John 10:10). That thief has many names and faces: the pressures of the clock, constant busyness, the unmet expectations of people, loneliness, excessive worry, an inability to say, “No,” the loss of hope, and so many other things. They steal our joy, kill our incentive, and destroy our dreams. Yet, the Lord’s response in the latter half of the verse speaks to His desire that we flourish, and do so in great measure: “I have come that [you] might have life, and have it abundantly.”

Pay Attention to Stress and Burnout

According to the American Psychological Association’s 2025 Stress in America Report, the numbers don’t lie.

• 62% of U.S. adults say that societal division and upheaval is a significant source of stress.
• 54% report feeling isolated from others more often than not.
• 70-75% of Americans have experienced physical and emotional symptoms related to stress and say they lack needed support.

Living Over the Limit

Stress and burnout are distinct processes but interrelated. It’s much more than simply “being tired.” Once the body’s stress response is triggered, there is a release of two powerful hormones, adrenaline and cortisol. Together and over time, they disrupt sleep patterns, increase the risk for anxiety and depression, impair the ability to concentrate, result in cardiovascular disease, and compromise the immune system.

Imagine for a minute that you are driving down the Interstate at 70 mph but in second gear. The resulting wear and tear to that motor is the same hidden impact on the body, mind, and spirit. The technical term is “allostatic load” or the cumulative effect of being depleted and diminished. Everything becomes toxic when there is no margin for recovery or restoration. It’s good to remind ourselves that we were created with limits.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 122 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure with nearly a million cardiac related deaths every year (25% of all deaths—one every 34 seconds). Heart disease has been the leading cause of morbidity in the United States since 1900 and it crosses all ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, and age barriers.

What then shall we do as people of faith?

Practice the Three S’s

We were not designed by God to experience constant and unrelenting pressure without replenishment. Permission to rest is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of God-breathed discernment and wisdom. The freedom to live well and flourish requires an intentional commitment to the rhythms of renewal. Here are three things to keep in mind, and practice on a regular basis.

• Stillness – Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” This begs the question: How can we know the Lord is who He says He is unless and until we are still, willing and able to get “off the merry-go-round” and simply stop for a few minutes?
• Silence – Psalm 62:1 says, “For God alone my soul in silence waits.” Sometimes there is too much “noise” in our daily activities. It becomes a distraction. In a particularly rollercoaster season of life a number of years ago, I was wrestling with the Lord, but really, I was just complaining too much and not listening very well. In a moment of loving admonishment, I felt God ask me, “If I stopped talking to you, how long would it take for you to notice?”
• Solitude – Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness to pray.” If the Lord, being fully God and fully man, understood the critical need to “often” get away and get alone, how much more do you and I need to incorporate this discipline into our regular routine?

Invest in Yourself

Here are some practical and scriptural principles to consider. It’s OK to invest in yourself… to give yourself permission to be silent, still, and have a little solitude. It’s low hanging fruit and the “return on investment” helps keep the thief at bay.

• Learn to rest because God has a lot to say about rest, and slow down the rate of change in your life.
• Maintain a healthy foundation of sleep.
• Seek to give your burdens to God each day—let Him carry the load.
• Learn to triage (assess and prioritize) your daily and life events.
• Learn to have realistic expectations of yourself and others.
• Resolve those things that can be attended to easily and quickly.
• Learn to delegate to others whenever, wherever, and however it’s appropriate.
• Invite one or two key people in your life to be accountable to.
  

Permission to Thrive

Perhaps the greatest challenge in a complex and chaotic world is not merely learning how to survive but learning what it means to thrive and live well. God never intended for us to always run on empty, to be emotionally exhausted and spiritually depleted. The invitation of Christ is not simply to endure life, but to experience His peace, presence, and replenishment along the way. So give yourself permission to pause. Permission to breathe. Permission to rest. Permission to be renewed.

Memo from God

“Please do not feel absolutely, completely, irrevocably, totally, and personally responsible for everyone and everything. That’s My job!” – Signed, God

In the twilight of his life and ministry, sitting in a prison cell in Rome, the apostle Paul wrote a good epilogue when he said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Don’t stress out. Don’t burn out. Don’t rust out. But by God’s grace, finish out and finish well.

Looking for spiritual support? You’re not meant to walk alone. Stay connected with the Medi-Share blog for uplifting articles, useful tips, inspirational stories and helpful resources to support you on your journey with God.