A Snack and A Nap
Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. Psalm 32:7
Life can get rough in the best of times. And, as we journey through life, trying to live for our Lord, we can reach points along the way at which we feel completely overwhelmed with the task that is before us. It needn’t be some great act of faith to try us. It can be something as simple as waiting on the Lord. As a parent, I remember those days when my children were easily overwhelmed and devolved into a meltdown over something as minor as putting on a pair of socks. They wanted my attention, and they wanted it now. Those meltdowns were often more extreme and harder to deal with as the boys became tired or hungry. And, often, they weren’t even aware of the physical need that was causing their meltdown. How similar are we in our spiritual lives?
Lately, I’ve been a bit of a petulant child in my spiritual life. My thought process reminds me of an old commercial that came on and the voice screamed, “It’s my money and I want it NOW!” I am primed and ready for the Lord to move in a mighty way. What I fail to consider when I become frustrated is that I am not the one who gets to choose how and when He moves in the life of His children. And, I also don’t have the privilege of being aware of all of the pieces of the puzzle He’s working on behind the scenes.
There are very few things in the life of a toddler that can’t be cured by a snack and a nap. And as much as I hate to think of myself as a spiritual “toddler”, I can admit that lately I’ve been acting like it. I need to take time to feast on the word and rest in my Lord. I have to take my attention away from the things I want in this world, even the positive spiritual things that I know would be in line with what God would have for us, and place my focus on my Lord. The overall question then becomes, Do I trust You, Lord? Do I truly believe that You want only good for me?
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11
Jeremiah understood how God thinks of us, how much He wants to benefit us in everything, My failure came when I wanted something God wants for all of us, but I wanted it on my own timeline. As I researched impatience in the Word this week, I quickly discovered that many of the impatient people we see in the Word did not come to a good end. The fault didn’t lay in their lack of patience, but in their lack of faith. Impatience itself is just the product of a lack of faith.
So, I have resolved within myself, and prayed to our Lord that I might have just a snack and a nap. I will trust Him to be my Father and provide my needs in His perfect timing. And while I wait, I will rest. Rest in the Lord, I will again allow Him to lead, and quit fighting his guidance: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:29 I love the mental picture of a yoked ox, placidly going where he is led by the one holding the reigns. Seemingly uncaring where he goes, but assured that if he just follows the directions of his master, the day will end with a meal and rest. And, I will feast on His Word: Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16 I will remember that to knowing and understanding His Word is the only way to find find true rest, and to fill the spiritual hunger given to those whom He loves.
And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. Psalm 119-47-50
People will fail us, Our own bodies will fail us, We won’t get what we want when we want it, but we can trust that the Lord has our best in mind, and is working everything toward our good. And when things aren’t going as we’d like… what we really need is a nap and a snack.
