by Craig Jutila
We are excited to have Craig Jutila with us again for The Orange Conference. Be sure to register for his breakout sessions before seats fill up!
In life and ministry, it is not the busyness that gets us, it is the stress! There are two kinds of stress, good stress and bad stress. We need to accept the good stress to make us and mold us into better leaders. We need to avoid the bad stress that bends and breaks us. We will take a look at both types and how to lead when life gets busy.
Hard Work vs Overwork
Hard Work: Doing what you were made for
Overwork: Doing more than you were made for
Good Stress (Intermittent and Occasional)
There is a difference between good stress (also called eustress, from the Latin es, meaning good) and bad stress. Good stress is positive in that it is not “continual.” It allows the body to return to a relaxed state. When the body is so pressured that it cannot return to its low state of arousal for rest and recovery it becomes distress, (from the Latin dis, meaning bad.)
Bad Stress (Chronic and Continual)
The stress that does us in is not the temporary crisis kind of stress, it’s the stress of challenge, high energy output and over commitment. If we do not build enough recovery into our lives to allow recovery of the system, we pay for it in stress disease. Highlight Loc. 1136-44 “Thrilled to Death” by Dr. Archibald Hart
When Life Gets Busy You Need to WALK
Watch Out
“Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour,” (1 Peter 5:8, NLT).
Answer Him
“Then Jesus asked the man, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Lord,’ he pleaded, ‘I want to see!’” (Luke 18:41, NLT).
Look Forward
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is,” (Ephesians 5:15-17, NASB).
Keep Perspective
“So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people to do in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them,” (Ecclesiastes 8:15, NLT). (Perspective is something I often lose when I need it the most.)
Craig Jutila has been providing leadership and creative resources for children’s ministry for over 20 years. He has served as a children’s pastor at two churches—most recently with Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. Currently, Craig is responsible for leading the charge at Empowering Kids, providing leadership and resources for children’s leaders around the world. He and his wife, Mary, also run Hadassah’s Hope to help parents offset the cost of adopting children internationally. Connect with Craig via Twitter (@craigjutila), Facebook (Facebook.com/craigjutila), or his blogs (https://www.WhoWillYouEmpower.com/craigblog and www.HecticToHealthy.com)
