Desperate means having an urgent need or desire.
The question begs to be asked: why are you desperate? What is your urgent need? Perhaps you are like me – desperate for margin, for white space, for unhurried time to just be.
Busyness makes one desperate.
Life is just too busy. Too many things cry out for one’s attention. Work, ministry, homekeeping, family; why even the grocery list, the laundry basket and the bills to pay are like voices nagging in the background. (My personal nemesis? The dinner menu!)
I could perhaps create something if I could just have ten minutes to myself! Ever feel that way? As a writer, I feel like the perfect essay is just lurking in the back of my brain and would spill out through my fingers on the keyboard if I just. Was. Left. Alone.
Rest is commanded.
The beauty part about being a child of God is He commands, not just suggests, that you rest one day a week. The first time He said this, it was quite a shock to the Children of Israel. After all, their whole lives they had been slaves.
Slaves don’t get a day off to rest.
Resting sets you apart.
The Lord intended the practice of taking a Sabbath would set His people, His beloved nation, apart from all the rest.
Because when you take off one day a week to rest, what you are really saying is that you trust your six days of work are enough.
Or more accurately, you are trusting that your God will make it be enough. And He will.
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. Exodus 20:10-11 NLT
He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace near the quiet brook of bliss. Psalm 23:2 TPT
What is important to remember about resting:
I don’t just want to make my physical body remain motionless, rest is also about making my soul and spirit trust in God’s provision. It’s all going to be okay.
Disclaimer: I do realize the urgency to find rest might be more of a first world problem in light of all the current turmoil in the world. But it’s a MY world problem. I bet I’m not alone. Do you feel it, too?
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Today’s post was written in response to the prompt, “desperate,” shared at Five Minute Friday. Writers write free-form style for 5 minutes on the prompt. You never know what you might get! (Posting scriptures and photos take longer!)
I’m also linking to the communities at Grace & Truth, Remember Me Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Tell His Story, InstaEncouragement Link-Up, Let’s Have Coffee, Recharge Wednesday