It was late when I finally finished eating dinner. Tired,
bleary-eyed from a long week at work, I opened the kitchen cupboard to put away
my leftover spaghetti, and stopped suddenly.
What am I doing?
I shook my head and laughed, and put the food in the
refrigerator where it belonged. I was
exhausted. The past few months had been a whirlwind, and tension was taking
its toll.
Of course, putting Italian food in the wrong place was
the least of it. Most nights I was up late working, folding laundry, or doing
“one more thing” before bed wondering why the days were so long and the nights
so short.
I don’t think I’m the only one who has too much to do and
never enough time.
In the exhaustion of daily living, we often complain,
“There’s so much to do, and never enough time” instead of saying a quiet
prayer, “Lord, I am so tired. Please
help me.”
And that’s exactly what God will do when you ask Him.
Rest brings margin
to your life, spaces that allow you to replenish and restore beauty and
balance. Without it, life is an endless cycle of work, chores and errands. And
that’s not what God intended. Joy, peace, fun and play are essential parts of
life, too.
Eugene Peterson explains the “unforced
rhythms of grace” in The Message Bible:
Come
to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show
you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with
Me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay
anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and
you'll learn to live freely and lightly. (Jesus, in Matthew
11:28-30)
Prayer
Lord, my hands are full and my
mind is reeling with so many things to do. Will you please order my days and help
me to get stuff done and find time to rest? As I work, help me to be productive
and peaceful. As I love others, help me be calm and encouraging. I need Your
peace in every area of my life today. Help me to find JOY despite my
circumstances. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(For more information on finding rest and relief from busyness and stress, check out "Powerful Prayers for Challenging Times" by Jackie M. Johnson.)
