I now perceive the saying, bone-tired, for it’s how I really feel as we speak. Sure, there was extra at work than common, however there’s additionally been driving the youngsters to violin and ju-jitsu classes and the lengthy strains on the large field retailer and cellphone calls with these affected by loss and sickness, and I simply really feel…depleted. I’ve no extra left to provide. I have to relaxation.
Once I discuss stopping to relaxation, I’m not talking of a nap. Neither am I talking of merely sitting myself down in a really comfortable chair, though that is a part of it. Clearly, I want a nap.
However I’m talking about surrendering to Jesus and asking him to take all of this stuff—the work, carpooling, errands, and holding house for my struggling associates—and giving them to him. I ask Jesus to resume and restore my energy, for I’ve none of my very own.
It’s occasions like these that my pal, Melissa, likes to ship me photos of birds with their little chicks beneath their wings. Her favourite metaphor for God within the Psalms and the prophets has all the time been God as a chicken. She likes to think about him hovering above us all, seeing and understanding the larger image. She loves the picture of taking refuge “within the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 57:1) Melissa texts me a type of chicken photos and says, “Search refuge till hurt passes.”
I do know she is correct. She’s often proper, and he or she’s particularly proper when she factors me to God.
So I take a Sunday afternoon off to be with God. With the tune refrains of Mass nonetheless singing in my coronary heart, I do take a nap. I want one. I sink in beneath the covers and thank God for this relaxation. As I go to sleep, I take into consideration different occasions I’ve turned to him when I’ve been on the finish of my rope, once I realized I couldn’t do it alone, and I lastly gave up and surrendered my will to God’s.
I flash again to moments of loneliness or a time once I was stalled in my profession. I feel again to a irritating scenario with a pal group after which even all the best way again to once I was discerning marriage with my husband. Each time, once I gave up management and surrendered to God’s will for me, his will was so a lot better than I may have imagined for myself.
Why do I do that each time then? Why do I feel I may be the one in management?
My eyes flutter as I start to go to sleep, and a verse from Philippians involves thoughts: “Don’t worry about something, however in every little thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made identified to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (4:6–7)
I pray, “Lord, I do know I want extra than simply relaxation however to give up my will to yours.”
I don’t keep in mind praying the rest as I fell right into a deep sleep. I dreamt of being slightly chicken beneath the enormous wings of God. Not solely was my nap restful, however it was peaceable. I knew God would maintain me.
Picture by Piyapong Saydaung from Pixabay.