Monday, August 12, 2013

Rest

Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 116:7-9

I read this verse the other day when I was feeling a little down about nothing in particular and it made me think so many different thoughts. It made me think how in times of amazing highs and seeing God work it's so easy to feel at rest and blessed. It's so crazy to me then how easily negative feelings and thoughts can creep back in days or even hours later if we allow them. Thoughts of doubt, insecurity, unsettledness, discontentment, sadness, lack of energy or joy, and a million other negativities. How is it that we can be so easily dragged back into feeling like we are lacking something in our lives. Sometimes the smallest thing can set me off to feeling like the world is out to get me. Bad drivers, slow grocery lines when I'm in a hurry, a broken dryer, burning dinner, having to wait for (fill in the blank)..... There are so many little small things in life that if we allow them to can puff themselves into much larger looking versions of themselves, when really they are but a drop in the pond of this life. Nothing to get worked up over. If we allow them though, they can snowball in our lives until we feel full blown overwhelmed, upset, distraught, or irritated and we can't even remember what is the actual root of the problem.

I love how this verse speaks to oneself, "return to your rest, O my soul." It sounds like such a sweet reminder and makes me think of God gently patting me on the head reminding me not to get so worked up over this life. This verse is such a great reminder to focus on how bountifully we truly have been blessed by God in so many areas of our lives. He truly has rescued me from so many tears, stumbling, and times that did feel as though I could die in my sorrow. There were many times it didn't feel like I was walking in the land of the living because I was barely aware of anything or anyone around me because I was too self focused on my own problems or heart aches. Thankfully I am not in that place anymore and that is a true miracle preformed by God. I need to remember to not be so dramatic in my thoughts and feelings and remember that He really has brought me through so many things and will continue to do so. We just need to return to our rest in trusting Him and live our lives while walking around this world and being aware of others and how God wants us to treat them. Not how we think we need to be treated.