Thank you for the well wishes and prayers sent my way over the past few days. They have been a source of encouragement to me. I hope to hear from the doctor today or Monday at the latest with my test results. Keep your fingers crossed! Your comments have also kept me company as I’ve grown bored from lying around.
Rest. It’s what the doctor ordered. Actually, God ordered rest first. The problem is most of us—including myself—neglect rest. We keep going and giving until we are completely spent rarely taking the time to replenish. Why do we do that?
The average person only gets 5-6 hours of sleep a night and brags about it when the body needs on average 7-8 hours a night. But we keep pushing and pushing until finally, we’re forced to rest due to sickness. Just look at me—exhibit A.
Jesus knew to rest while we make excuses. I don’t have time to rest! I have to blah, blah, blah. If you think about it, Jesus’ day was not much different than our day. Just read the first chapter of Mark. It’s all about a day in the life of Jesus. He got up and went to work teaching at the Baptist church there in Jerusalem. Often, during His work day, he was distracted by demons. Now I realize that you and I don’t face many demons during our day, however, we do face distractions that try and keep us from accomplishing what we need to achieve. Like Jesus, we need to identify the distractions in our lives that waste our time and spend our energy and get rid of them quickly.
On the other hand, not all interruptions in Christ day, or ours, are bad—just tiresome. As Jesus went about teaching, He was also interrupted by the sick, the blind and those bound in sin. What was His reaction? Christ stopped teaching to heal, give sight, and set the sinner free.
Just when he thought his day was over, it wasn’t. He went home to have dinner with a friend, when all of the sudden, his friend’s mother becomes ill. Can you identify? Just when you tuck your last child into bed and slip into a hot tub with a good book, you hear; “Mom, I don’t feel so good.”
Like Christ, our job is NEVER done!
Let’s face it. Even though Christ was God; He was man. Jesus felt the pressure of the crowds. He knew what it was like to have people depending on Him just like those who are counting on us. So, what did Jesus do in response to it all? How did he manage without clasping from exhaustion? How did he juggle life, work, and ministry? …He got away and rested.
Hummm…
Simple solution.
Perhaps I should learn to do the same. What about you?
Shonda says
Enjoy your rest basking in HIS presence. I'm praying for you and your doctors.
Blessings in Christ-
Shonda
Lelia Chealey says
Yes, get plenty of rest my friend. I meant to e-mail you the other day and pray for you. I'm so sorry…you'd think I was the new mom in our family! 🙂
I hope you are feeling yourself again real soon. At least you've learned to have "no fear". 🙂
I LOVED your book and we just wrapped it up this week. Keep writing…God is really using you! But don't write right now sister! REST!
Blessings,
Lelia
On Purpose says
Thank you for encouraging us to rest as you rest!
Dear Heavenly Father make Your awesome presence known while Micca is waiting and resting. Speak to her heart and remind her just how GREAT You are. Keep her from worry, stress and thinking too much. Be with the doctors as they decipher and read these test results. Your mighty hand is in this and we trust You to care and heal Micca-Amen!
Angela @ Refresh My Soul Blog says
Oh sweet MIcca, God has been speaking that to me in so many ways and I have been practicing it. It has been very good. I do not want to be forced into rest one more time!!!
Hope your tests come back good!
Much love,
Angela