I’m joyful, im learning new things, im a little bit sunburned, im laughing a lot, im discouraged and then encouraged, im around people all the time, im trying to go for runs, im anticipating what’s next and im tired….i’m in Romania and it’s month 10. Did I mention that I’m tired?
Gosh this is all I seem to be talking about lately, this is all any of us keep talking about lately. Things are good, things are exciting, the weather is wonderful, but man I could use a nap about every hour.
I was sitting in church last Sunday night when a beautiful lovely squad member of mine got up to talk, and do you know what came out of her mouth??! She said saying your tired is the lamest excuse ever. Umm what the crap, no it’s not. Being tired is perfectly acceptable, I mean we travel all the time, do ministry 6 days a week and then pile whatever else we can on top of that. I can be tired right?!
Physically we get tired and then the cure of course is to sleep, or rest, just sit down for a while and not move. But here’s the thing we, I do all those things. (actually prob. Way too much at times) and then I’m still tired.
In psalm there is a theme of rest. Over and over again it brings you back to the image and notion of finding rest in Christ, and then not just finding rest but receiving strength from that.
And then in Matthew Jesus tells us that if we are heavy burdened and tired He will give us rest. Hmmm really? So we go to him when we are tired, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
I’m pretty sure though that I never run to God when I am tired, no on the contrary I run to my bed, or to my computer and go on pinterest.
The rest in God though brings restoration, wholeness, a peace. It means having contentment for what’s in front of you, it energizes you and focus’s you back on what’s important and reminds you of who you are. We are able to rest under the watch and protection the one who loves us the most. It brings complete safety.
When I’m looking to God for his empowerment and resting in Him I always just feel more excited to be where im at. I feel more encouraged to love people because im reminded of how much I am loved.
It’s like a few days ago when I was out walking one afternoon up the main road in town and as we walked by this old white church water came pouring down on us from the top window. It’s pretty shocking just to get hit by water like that. Giving who ever did it the benefit of the doubt we decided it was probably some kids being funny. Normally I would have laughed but I was “tired”, hot and thought it was stupid. Then on the walk back on the other side of the road we looked up into that church to see who could have been up there. Like I said it was probably just kids, except just kidding it was a man, maybe around 25 or older. SERIOUSLY grrrr. This did not help my mood. I was tired, I am always promised rest in Christ but I wasn’t seeking it, wasn’t willing to rest.
Then last night, I went for a run right when the sun was going down with some people, it was just a great day, lots of joy, lots of rest. Which for me can be as simple as keeping things in perspective and counting my blessings. Running in general makes me tired, physically tired, I usually hate it the whole time im doing it but at one point I was listening to my ipod looking out in front of me and just seeing the people in our village, laughing as kids were running with us, running past horses and cows while the sun was going down, I mean it’s prob. the cheesiest image to picture haha but it was AWESOME.
But I was just at rest, not doing or worrying about anything else then what was in front of me… rest is so good,…
I think I wait to rest in God, I wait till things get really crazy, or busy or until I have no other option, but thankfully He never intended us to wait or to try it on our own first, rest is ours at all times.
