September 16
Don't Sweat It
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 @ 2:36 pm by Josh Burcham
We learn lessons about life from both good and bad experience. This is a lesson that I’m still learning to practice. Don’t sweat it. Now this lesson has a story. I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not to post it and have come to this conclusion: this is my blog where I’m willing to share my heart for others, as a tool to help them grow. From time to time I share things that are Truth and in turn upset some people. It is never my intention to hurt people, but a lot of times people are hurt because of their convictions. Know this post is written out of love with no ill feelings from me. I’ll leave it at that.
You can’t control how people view you. You can’t control what they think or don’t think you are doing. When I decided to plant Ridgepoint Church, rumors started to fly. People started to talk. Saying things like, “Josh doesn’t believe in the Bible” or even better “Josh is trying to steal people from other churches.” Things that never came out of my mouth. Things that were never my intention.
I left a church that I loved. I left a church that I poured my blood, sweat and tears into. I left because God called me to leave and if I had to make that same decision again, I would do the same. Because I got out of my comfort zone and traveled into the unknown, Jesus taught me how to follow Him as a true Christ-follower. Something I wouldn’t of been able to do unless I left. It had nothing to do with the church I was at, it’s an amazing church in so many ways, but it was my comfort zone and God had to move me out of that comfort zone.
A hand full of people at a church of just under a thousand were able to destroy my reputation and burn bridges between that church and me. Now here was the part that hurt, these were people I trusted, people I looked up to and people I served along side for years. These people were friends.
Did I make all the right decision during this time of my life? No. I’ll be the first to tell you my mistakes. But we need to learn how not to sweat things we can’t control. I can’t control how people view me. I can only be how God has called me to be and continue to grow as a Christ-follower. But people will always talk and sometimes those people have a lot of influence on others. Don’t sweat it. Be true to your Creator and let life be life. And remember, Christ never promised an easy life, He showed us that it would be quite the opposite.
When we sweat over these things we can’t control, they start to reak havic on our lives. I became bitter over this experience and though I tried to hide that bitterness it showed itself. And I had to come before Jesus and let it go. He had to show me how to not sweat it.
Stay true to Christ and the God-size dream He has placed on your life. No matter what happens keep chasing that vision. No matter what is said, keep your focus on Christ. And don’t sweat it.
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Josh, This is a perfect post. I know exactly how you feel, I may not have experienced as much of it as you, but I have been burned, and I had been bitter. I couldn’t agree more with your conclusion. Bring it before Christ, and let it go. The worst thing you can do is let something stir and stir until you explode. It accomplishes nothing and only hurts the kingdom of God. Lets keep focused on Christ and the God sized dreams we are called to do.
Comment by John Popovich — September 16 @ 5:03 pm