“It is senseless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, fearing you will starve to death; for God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest.” Psalm 127:2 (TLB)
When you were, or possibly now are, at the peak of your work output, how many hours are you working daily. Back in the day, there were times when it was normal to work 12-15 hours daily and add a couple of hours before and after that period of being on the clock. At the end of those stressful times that I welcomed to get back to 8 hours a day and rid myself of the endless exhaustion.
I retired twelve years ago from the State of Nebraska and now, boy do I love a good nap; in a chair, on the couch, my bed or even the floor. God reminded me of a time, back in the day, when I took a mat to my kindergarten class and took a nap after lunch. God has taught me some things about balance; which I’ve had to learn over and over again since the past 65 years in kindergarten. Here’s what I learned; resistance to rest is immaturity. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is the church nor anything else that is worthwhile.
The above Bible passage says “It is senseless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, fearing you will starve to death; for God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest.” I don’t think that God wants you to accomplish everything all at once. He wants you to learn to pace yourself as he uses the circumstances of your life to help you mature little by little. While God is growing your career, he’s growing you. While God is growing your children, he’s growing you. For you to grow, you have to learn to rest in God’s goodness.
Some people think God only smiles on them when they’re working, praying, or doing “spiritual” things. But God also smiles on you when you rest. If you’re a parent, and you’ve ever gone in your kids’ room and checked on them at night; you know the joy it gives you just to watch them sleep. Your heavenly Father enjoys watching you sleep and rest. He created you to need rest. Even God rested! Are you busier than God?
Why did our Triune God create this planet and universe for 6 days and then rest and relax on the seventh day? It’s not because he was tired, because God doesn’t get tired. He was modeling what he wants you to do. Stop work and relax, keep a Sabbath, and rest in God’s goodness.
Now, may God go before you to guide you...may His hands be beneath you to support you, around you to protect you and above you to bless you. And may the blessings of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you today and every moment along your journey until you reach Paradise. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay