(Mark 6:31)
Today is the start of one of those famous 3-
day weekends we all love so much here in the US. For most, it is a time to get away from
the pressures of work and relax. Even if you have to work during
this holiday weekend, let me encourage you to spend as much time as possible
in the next couple of days putting your troubles on hold and focusing instead on
rest and relaxation. I am not trying to minimize the complex and difficult
situations many of you are facing, but we MUST find pockets of time in our
life to put the burdens down and rest. You are much better equipped to
handle life's problems fresh and energized than when you are tired and
running on fumes. It is in those run down times when our problems look
insurmountable and we are most apt to become depressed and lose hope. Even
Jesus had to get away once in a while to recharge and refocus.
A time of rest does many things for you. It helps you, of course, to regain
your physical strength. Just as important though, it allows you to regain
your mental strength. Fighting day after day wears us down mentally, and we
get so focused on our problems that we lose sight of possible alternatives that
may help us in our struggles. Getting worn down also causes us to lose
perspective, and it can snowball, causing us to forget that God is
still in control. Most important though, a time of rest helps us to refocus
on our personal relationship with the Lord. In the midst of our trials, we
can miss out on that daily, intimate time with Him which just compounds the
problems. That time of rest allows us to not only recharge our bodies and
minds, but our relationship with the Lord.
Just hours before going to the cross, Jesus told His disciples that in this
life they would have many trials. He did not want them to be deceived into
thinking that just because they had walked with Christ, they were immune
from life's problems. But He promised them that He would always be with
them. We are heirs to that promise as followers of Christ. It is the Christ
living in us that gives us the ability to live overcoming and victorious
lives. Never lose sight that the Bible tells us we are more than conquerors
through Him. That means whatever you are facing today, whatever obstacles may be
in your life, because of Jesus you can overcome them and be victorious. So in
these next few days while you rest, while you recharge, dwell not on your
problems...but on the fact that we have total victory in Jesus!
I love you and care about you. Many will be traveling this weekend and you
will be in my prayers for traveling mercies. I pray that you will have a
wonderful few days of rest and relaxation...that you will be able to spend
quality time with family and friends...and most important, that you will spend some
quality time with the Lord. He loves you, cares about you, and will make you
adequate each day for the challenges that you face. Focus on living life in
His strength and not your strength, and those burdens won't seem as heavy.
Enjoy the holiday as you put your troubles on hold, and find that peace that
passes all human understanding in Him.
