Flopping on my bed utterly exhausted, I thought, I want to run away.
I could relate to that old commercial with the lady in the bathtub asking the bath soap to take her away. But where could I go? I was too old to join the circus, and it is too noisy there anyway. How about joining a peaceful convent? But I am not Catholic, and I am married. Guess that was not a viable option either. In any event, I was too tired to get up and go somewhere. Instead, I went to bed early and slept for eleven hours. I woke up refreshed and reenergized.
Sometimes we reach the point where life’s activities and obligations wear us down. We struggle to put one foot in front of the other. Then we might feel guilty for feeling unmotivated and not wanting to do anything. My packed agenda of doing God’s work (volunteering for an outreach ministry, organizing a church activity, etc.) should energize me, right? But what if it doesn’t?
Elijah found himself in a similar predicament. He had had enough and wanted to get away from it all. While I wanted to relocate, Elijah prayed to die. Having just triumphed on Mount Carmel in a throwdown with 450 priests of Baal, he found himself exhausted and at the end of his rope.
Elijah and I are both human and do not have an inexhaustible supply of energy, even when we are doing things to give God glory. Sometimes it is necessary to stop and rest. God recognized the need for rest from the beginning when, following creation, He rested on the seventh day and instructed us to observe regular times of rest also.
We are God’s creation, and He expects us to be good to ourselves by taking time for rest and sleep. These behaviors are not laziness, but good stewardship. Elijah can have his broom bush to sleep under, but I will be snoozing on my bed.
Let God take you away for times of rest and relaxation.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Lovely!
Great article
Sharing time with God gives me peace and comfort that only He can provide. :-) What a wonderful blessing to share time with Him.