I’m thankful to Crabtree Valley Baptist Church for allowing me to enjoy a “staycation” this past week. It was a wonderful time of rest and being able to refocus through prayer and planning. Every time I take a vacation, or just spend time resting, my mind always goes back to Jesus and the times He took to rest and pray. This was such an important part of His ministry. We all need to rest. Please enjoy this story of rest from Katherine Hannon.
Story: Worry or Rest?
Wash the dishes, take out the trash, finish an email—Amanda had more to do in life than there were hours left to do them. She tried to fall asleep, but sleep just wouldn’t come.
Her financial situation also weighed heavily on her mind. She had lost her job, and money was tight. The load of it all threatened to crush her. Amanda got up and tiptoed to the edge of the nursery where her baby slept sweetly. Baby Jeremy didn’t feel any of the pressure she did. He didn’t know what tomorrow held—he just knew his parents would take care of him.
Amanda laughed as she tried to picture how worried Baby Jeremy would be if he knew all that he needed tomorrow. He needed so many things he couldn’t possibly get for himself—after all, he was just a baby, and babies can’t dress themselves or fix their own breakfast. But if he knew all he needed the next day and felt the impossibility of getting it, would he say what she’d been saying—that there was no way? Would he stay up late fretting too?
How silly that would be! Baby Jeremy had parents who lovingly took care of all his needs. He didn’t need to understand how his needs would all be met—it was enough to know his parents would take care of him. Amanda stopped short in her train of thought. Didn’t she have a Heavenly Father caring for her too? A smile suddenly illuminated her face, and a weight fell from her shoulders. She could curl up and rest, even without answers, just like Baby Jeremy, confident that her Heavenly Father had it all under control.
“Wherefore, if God so clothed the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:30-34
Until next week… Peace and Blessings.. Johnny
