When Strivings Cease

The sermon yesterday was on "Creating Margin between your Load and your Limit." This is something that I don't do well. Ever really. I'm constantly on the go as I'm sure many people are. The good thing about that is that we get a lot done. The bad thing is that there will always be more to do and we'll never feel like we've accomplished it all.

This week, we were challenged to find 5 minutes to be silent and still enough to listen to God. I'm 0 for 1 today. It's hard enough finding any breathing space at all, and truthfully, when I do find space, I'm just so stinking tired. It's hard to listen when you're tired. Have you ever tried to listen when you're tired? Church services are a good example of this. If you're tired when you go to church, chances are you'll miss the sermon entirely in favor of viewing the backs of your own eyelids. If you're sitting with a friend, he/she may be kind enough to jab you in the ribs...with the kindness of Christ of course. But my point is, it's hard to listen to God when you're tired.

So where do we find rest? I'll let you know if I uncover the secret. My guess is that I have to start changing my lifestyle completely. If I start saying "No" to things and putting enough margin in my life for downtime, I might actually be still enough to hear God and rested enough to have energy to carry out His desires.

But that's just a hunch. Again, I'll let you know if I find out the secret to creating margin. I know this blog is titled, "Summer Stillness", but I'm finding it hard to be still. Seriously. Like right now - it's 10:15 at night and my child is still crying and standing up in his crib, waiting for somebody to come and fetch him. I thought 10:15 would be a good time to blog and find some quiet in my mind and heart...but it's not. What to do?!

I'll leave with one last question: If and when we were to cease our striving, what would that look like?

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand