The last few weeks have been crazy. My book has just launched. I’m fixing glitches on my website. Getting all my ducks in a row for a book signing. And continuing to work and get started on a new book. Crazy.
Over and over I’ve thought and even said out loud, “I need a vacation.” I just want to stay at home and put puzzles together and do counted cross stitch and not have to push myself to do anything. I was exhausted. I haven’t felt well in quite a while. I just wanted to rest!
Be careful what you wish for.
Two days ago I had a low-grade fever and felt horrible. Time for a trip to the doctor. Results: UTI and some gout in my foot. Three meds to take. An excuse to do nothing.
After starting the meds yesterday I had the best night’s sleep in a long time. Starting to feel much better, and this is the first writing-related thing I’ve done in two days.
Big win, right?
Except – I didn’t have the energy to work on a puzzle or cross stitch. I thought about getting the puzzle out, but instead I lay down and slept for two more hours. Sleep was apparently what I needed for my body to heal and to get energized to go on with my book signing.
God’s words in Psalm 46:10 come to mind: “Be still and know that I am God.”
In today’s culture we are very seldom still. We are busy with busy-ness. Family, work, recreation, surfing the web, school and school activities. The list goes on and on.
In some cases the list also includes church activities. Teaching a class, singing in the choir, volunteering in the nursery and more. Obviously there is nothing wrong with being active in your church. In most cases there are a handful of people who do all the work. Burnout is all too common.
We need time to be still, but if we drop something on our schedule to make more time, we feel guilty. At least I do. Am I the only one? Comment below if you feel that way, too.
Unfortunately, many of us don’t take that time to be still unless some outside force – injury, accident, family emergency – makes us slow down.
Another issue is that when we are forced to slow down we miss the point of being still. Be still and know that He is God. It’s important to look to God in prayer and Bible reading. We should be doing these things in our every day lives, but often the busy-ness distracts us from what we need to do in our spiritual lives in order to keep doing the things we need to do in our physical lives.
When God slows you down, take advantage of the time and spend it with God. If you’re lying flat on your back, what else can you do but pray? When I had Covid, I wasn’t even able to read, but that’s where YouTube comes in. There are plenty of Bible readings on audio and good biblical preachers. Feed your soul.
I’m talking to myself here, too. I long for the times to slow down, but then when I have the opportunity, I often squander it. We need to understand what a privilege it is to have a relationship with our Savior.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. – James 4:8 (NIV)
Spot on.