He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber . PSALM 121:3
No matter how many times we hear it beforehand, nothing truly prepares us for the round-the-clock demands of motherhood. We toddlers to sleepless nights while school projects get finished or teenagers return home safely. The constant vigil continues even when our children move out because they never leave our hearts and minds. We wonder sometimes how we’ll push through our exhaustion to the next day. Sometimes it seems we might never experience true rest again.
When those times come, we need to remind ourselves that we weren’t meant to be on “active duty” 24/7. God instructs us to rest and find refreshment. We also know that God rested after finishing all of creation. And if God takes time to rest, we certainly should. The trouble is that sometimes when we actually step away, we still fret about what might (or might not) happen. We have trouble letting go and trusting that things will be fine if we’re not watching.
Here’s a reassurance that should help us in those moments: God is over everything, and God always knows what’s happening. One of the psalmists wrote of how God never slumbers or sleeps. In this context, “slumber” refers to nodding off or taking a quick nap as opposed to experiencing deep sleep. God never takes a few minutes off to rest from watching over us. And God certainly never falls asleep.
When we remind ourselves of this and believe that it’s true, we are freed to enjoy the rest that can seem so elusive. Here’s to taking a deep breath, propping our feet up, and relaxing for a few minutes. God is still watching over things even when we snatch a much-needed nap.
Lord, give me the energy I need to handle each day, but show me when I need to stop and rest. Thank You for never getting tired and needing a break Yourself. Amen .
No comments:
Post a Comment