“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
How easy it is to feel like we are being dragged by an undertow, going under, and drowning–especially at this time of year when we are weary from the wonderful yet overflowing Christmas holiday season.
There is nothing I would desire to change or give up, in our large family’s many Christmas gatherings. Love flows and we are blessed with 4 generations of kinfolk ranging from ages 79 years to 6 months. Life is good! But I’m exhausted!
Last night I woke up with a sense of oppression. My mind raced hither and thither among upcoming things to do and scheduled events. Out of state company will arrive soon, and we’ll host still more gatherings at our home for those who couldn’t visit earlier due to those inevitable holiday flu bugs.
I lay in bed thinking of how my physical “nerve center” was in disarray, from my lifestyle of multi-tasking. The “nerve center” consists of one end of our bedroom, and it contains: a desk where I pay bills and write letters, my computer-scanner-printer area, my creative writing desk, piles of books–and my painting studio with a table, easel, stacks of sketchbooks and watercolor paper, brushes, watercolors, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, ink pencils, a plethora of ring binders filled with articles and art info culled from magazines and online sources, etc.
I felt like I was being dragged to the bottom of an ocean, by an undertow over which I had no control. I felt weak and helpless, as if I’d never again be able to function. A scary thought occurred to me: This is what “burnout” feels like. I’m not only drowning, I’m burning out!
Until . . . I came unto Him. Until I prayed: “Of course I’m helpless, Lord. Only You can be my strength. Only You can get me out of bed in the morning and give me whatever I need to get through the remaining hours of 2009. Only You can bring me into 2010 in a spirit of serenity, rather than a state of frenzy! You are my rest, and You are my peace! Thank you, Lord.”
Within minutes of praying that prayer, I fell asleep for the remainder of the night. I woke up refreshed. Glancing around my “nerve center” office/studio/library, I realized it wasn’t all that bad. At least I knew where to find things. A minimum of straightening up would do wonders–and this was quickly accomplished.
I transfered my letter writing supplies to a cozy desk in our dining room–thereby decreasing the amount of paraphernalia in one confined area. How fun it will be to write letters on lovely stationery in our lovely dining room, with tea steeping in an English porcelain teapot by my side!
Although still exhausted, I’m experiencing tranquility today–thanks to our Lord who promises to bear our burdens and give us rest! In the human realm, there will always be something that needs sorting out–something yet to be done.
The only finished work ever accomplished on planet earth was the work which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did on Calvary. That is finished! He has dealt with our sin. He is risen, and He will bear our burdens–no matter how heavy laden we may be.
We will never finish all we believe we need to do. We will never create a perfectly tidy environment–and we can only drive ourselves batty when we think we must.
Creativity is messy! Some little thing will always be out of place, inconvenient, or disarranged. When I entertain loved ones, write letters, and paint pictures (knit, sew, cook, or whatever) in a God-focused attitude of joyous serenity, I forge silver and gold for eternity.
But when I fret over the details in my life–thinking I must move mountains in my own strength (which is utter weakness)–my “work” becomes wood, hay, and stubble: suitable only for burning.
How blessed to go for the gold and silver, rather than burn out! And all we need to do is come unto Him!
Margaret L. Been–All Rights Reserved
Grace with Salt -- Biblical Reflections by Margaret L. Been 