Burn Out

More and more I hear of people who are fighting depression, fatigue, and stress, believe me I understand this very well. There have been many times in my life where I have been under the burden of these all too familiar feelings....the feeling of being completely burnt out.

Today as I come to the end of a much needed rest in my life (Spring Break) I am thankful that God knows what I need and when I need it most, especially after coming out of a very stressful time in my life.

It's one thing to rest physically when the body is tired, but where do we go for spiritual rest? Even if we keep on going and going like the proverbial "energizer bunny" God has a way of making our bodies shut down so that they can replenish and rest, it's called sleep. However, He does become more drastic if we don't heed Him. I know, I've learned that hard lesson before. Spiritual rest isn't so easy. It takes a concerted effort to truly rest in the Lord and allow inner healing to take place. Sometimes the very thing we need is the very thing we don't do. It's like a baby that fights sleep and as much as we hate to admit it, we are alot like that. We fight the very thing we need...ugh!

I am trying to learn to rest in the Lord...to not only rest physically, but rest spiritually. Being spiritually renewed and refreshed isn't easy, especially when I find myself doing the things that are opposite of resting in God. The ironic thing is that sometimes we confuse "doing" things for God and end up just getting more busy and more tired and drained physically and spiritually. It can turn into such a vicious cycle.

Lord, help me! Help me to rest in You...to find peace, comfort and contentment in the place that you have me now, not busy doing and striving, but busy being at the feet of Jesus...choosing the thing that is most important. Help me to rest in Your presence and feed on Your Word. The very Word of Life that gives me sustanance and strength. My spirit yearns and longs for life giving nourishment...but unless I eat and taste that the Lord is good...how can I possibly beat - burn out?

"When Your words came, I ate them, they were my joy and my hearts delight; for I bear Your name O Lord God Almighty." Jeremiah 15:16