He Lets Me Lie Down

On Aug. 12, 2012 I read this blog by Kristen Lamb. There's some saying about great minds, but I'm not sure it really applies to me.  All Work & No Play Is No Fun & No Good

I have trouble with balance. Not the physical kind. I can walk and chew gum most of the time without any trouble. I do, however, have trouble with balance in my life of service for God.  

I know that I am saved by grace through, and only through, the sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross. I know that my faith is evidenced by what I do for Him. I know I show my gratitude for His sacrifice for me by what I do, for Him, for others. “Ah!”, as Shakespeare says, “that is the rub.”

 WHAT I do. What I do. What I DO. I get trapped in the that sentence.  The “what” the “I” the “do”. I get so caught up within that sentence that I will continue doing until I am all done up. I will give and give and give of myself past the point when I have anything else to give.

Sometimes I feel I am a rain barrel that people keep dipping in to get the water.  Even when the barrel is empty they keep trying to get more out.  Scraping the bottom trying to get what isn’t there.  I have given of myself way past the point of reason or common sense. I will end up in tears in my pastor’s office physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted.  

I go home. I try to back off the doing. I feel guilty because I am not doing enough for God.  I keep doing. I crash again. Now throw in some crisis that happens in life somewhere in the cycle. I don’t care where.  It happens. That’s life. Am I ready for it? Can I make it through? With God’s help, yes. Have I been as effective? Have I handled it in the best way for God? Probably not. Why?

I have run myself ragged “for God”. Always doing. Always feeling guilty that I am not doing enough. Feeling guilty if I take an afternoon to just read or just do nothing.

He lets me lie down in green pastures; 
He leads me beside quiet waters.

He renews my life;
He leads me along the right paths 
for His name's sake. Ps 23:2-3 HCSB

HE lets me lie down.  He LETS me lie down.  He lets ME lie down. He lets me LIE DOWN.

He wants me to rest. He wants me to be refreshed. He wants me to be renewed so that I can walk the paths of life ready to honor His name.  I have come to realize and enjoy the times of rest He gives me. They are times of reflection, of renewal, of rest so I can serve Him to the glory of His name. They are the times to balance the stressful trials.  They are times to be grateful for.  

We don’t serve God only by doing. Sometimes we serve God by resting. I will let Him let me lie down.