There’s a story left untold from Training Camp, and I wrestled with telling it.
But I want you all to know, because it taught me a powerful lesson about rest.
One night at camp multiple Squads were put into this room that served as a worship room, a breakfast area during the women’s retreat, etc. We were put in there to sleep because there were tornado warnings all night where we were. The thing is, we couldn’t access our packs all day or night (they were piled away somewhere), so I didn’t have my sleeping bag, or sleeping pad. The night before I hadn’t had it either, so imagine the sleep need I had.
So, first I thought I would smart and take two metal folding chairs and lay on them. I did that for about 20 minutes until this Adventures staff member came and informed me I was in the path to the coffee machine and would need to move. It was hard for me to not lash out because I wanted to say,”And that coffee availability is waaaaaaay more important than sleep. It’s not like a human needs sleep to function or anything. Oh wait…..”
I silently got up, folded the chairs back, and put them away.
Then I realized the small stage was carpeted and someone had mentioned before that people with no sleeping bags should lay there since it is at least less hard than the cement floor. I went there to discover it full, mostly with people actually using sleeping bags and/or pads.
I was so exhausted and I just wanted to rest. Training Camp was emotionally draining enough without sleep deprivation. I found a spot against the wall to sit and let my back lean against the wall. I hugged my knees and tried to pretend I wasn’t cold and uncomfortable (did I mention my spot was beside a door that people were going in and out of all night?). I cried, silently to myself and to Abba.
Fast forward to around 6ish in the morning: a Squad member had left her spot on the stage to go do her prayer time outside at the big tent. She took her sleeping bag with her, so I assumed she was up for the day. I had heard her getting a good night of rest for hours, anyway.
So, after a little waiting I laid down in that spot on the stage, thinking even just an hour of sleep would be incredible. That carpeted stage felt amazing. Just to be able to lay down felt amazing. And it was, for the 20 minutes I was there.
That same squadmate returned and instead of just taking a spot on the floor and using her sleeping bag to lay on, she shook me and said, “That’s my spot.”
I was shocked. And angry. And hurt. And sleepy. And I just wanted to rest.
Another squad mate of mine saw this all take place and took pity on me. She had a pillow and a sleeping pad on the floor and offered me her spot, claiming it was her prayer time soon anyway and she was up for the day. I wanted to cry….in joy. Finally, a place to rest!
I tell this story to say this: resting is something that God designed us to need. He rested on the 7th day, too! In the Bible it doesn’t just tell us to take a rest, but how to rest.
This world makes us tired. There are always doubts, fears, obligations, etc. telling us “that’s my spot” and causing us to miss our rest.
But the Bible tells us to rest in God. It’s not a suggestion, but a command.
Jesus Christ, the sacrificial Lamb, is saying, “Here sister, here brother….you can have this spot.”
And I assure you, God will never tell you to move spots. There is plenty of room to rest in God. He makes sure of it.
“Return to your rest, my soul, for The Lord has been good to you.” -Psalm 116:7
“Therefore, while the promise to enter His rest remains, let us fear that none of you should miss it.” -Hebrews 4:1
