Rest

Are you anxious about anything? Hmmm it is kind of difficult not to be anxious and worry in this crazy world. It can be very tiring can it not? In fact our great country and indeed the entire world has built a multi-billion dollar industry around pills and all kinds of products designed to take away our burdens and provide us with peace. Drugs have been taken, alcohol has been consumed, books have been written, hypnosis has been tried, counselors have counseled, acupuncture has punctured, and meditation has been meditated, and yet still people suffer anxiety. The fact of the matter is that we are going to have burdens in this world; the Bible assures us of that. Sometimes they will seem overwhelming. How do we get relief?

In Florida I am amazed at the trees that survive hurricanes and those that do not. The ones that survive can bend with the wind. Those trees that do not bend, snap like a twig when the strong gusts come ripping through. I once had a boxing coach that told me to “roll with the punch”. He counseled me on this nearly half a century ago and I remember it like yesterday. If I stood in there flat footed toe to toe taking solid punches, the odds went up that one of them was going to knock me out. If I danced and slid around the ring, and when punched rolled with it instead of standing their solidly taking it, punches were more easily deflected and rolled right off my thick head.

This advice has stuck with me through the years and I think is useful for other situations. If you are burdened, don’t stand flat-footed, rock-solid, fighting it out taking solid punch after punch, instead dance around a bit, roll with the punch and keep moving. (Don’t dwell on your misfortune; rather earnestly concentrate on other things – look for the good things that always surround you even in the midst of trials and yes even tragedy.) Most importantly allow God to help. That is where the bending comes in. Bend your knees and ask God to bring you rest. We cannot withstand the burdens of this life alone. Perhaps this is the greatest reason that God allows us to be burdened in the first place, in order that we will realize that “alone” we are no match for the evil in this world, and we need God in our daily lives.

I love the verse below. I am high strung, an insomniac, restless, and as impatient as any fool could be, and it is very difficult for me to adhere to this verse; however I realize that it is exactly what I need to do. Join me this morning and rest in the Lord.

Come on now, bow your head and ask our Father to give you some much needed rest. Now isn’t that better. Ahhhh..

Psalms 37:7
Rest in the Lord and wait
patiently for Him