Rest

Well, 2009 is half over. I must say that it has been very busy for me. At Thanksgiving I started a part time job. I trained intensively for the last 6 months getting ready for a black belt test that was in May. Child #2 graduated from high school in May. I started teaching karate at a new location in May. This all means that I currently work 12-15 hours/week, teach 9 hours/week, and home-school a 5th and 9th grader (yes, we are still trying to finish up last year’s school). Then there is family and house and church. Thank God the karate test and the graduation are over at this point!

As you can imagine, and probably relate in today’s world, the pressure and the exhaustion have caught up with me at times. It is hard to juggle the schedule and the responsibilities and my sanity. I found out 2 weeks ago that I had to drive child #3 to Ohio and stay for a week. I cannot tell you what went through my mind - let’s just say that I could not imagine any way that I could drop my classes, my work, my income, and my stuff and stay in Ohio for a week!
So, here I am - at a campground in Ohio. I’ve been here since Friday night. Saturday I spent at a harp competition, but I’ve been here alone in the woods ever since. I did go to church Sunday… it made me miss my own church. I do have neighbors in the campground… they make me miss my family (except the screaming child that was here the first day…). It took me several days to unwind and stop the chatter in my mind and really enjoy being here.

This morning I opened my Bible to the book of Psalms, and this is what I read:

Psalm 62:1-8

My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

How long will you assault a man?
Would all of you throw him down –
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
They fully intend to topple him
from his lofty place;
they delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to Him,
for God is our refuge.

As I read this I realized that rest is what I have needed most. These last few months there has been no rest. There has been too much activity and busyness and noise in my life. Satan and the world and my own sin nature fully intend to topple me; and I can’t find rest anywhere except in God alone. He had to get me alone and away from my stuff and my responsibilities and my life to remind me of that.

My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

becky givens