Rest for the Weary

For several weeks now I have had trouble sleeping. No, I don’t mean I toss and turn for an hour. Or two. Or three. Sometimes I will see the time digitally illuminated on my cell phone as I anxiously pry it open and see 2:30 am. And then 3:30. And just as my mind and body somehow find that nowhere place among the temporarily comatose, the alarm on my cell phone rudely interrupts my slumber at 6:30 am. Time for work.

It would be easy to allow Anxiety to set up house within my heart after such a long time without the needed rest. And believe me, there are points in time that it has.

And it would be easy for Anxiety to summon his friends, Frustration and Worry and even Desperation when I allow my mind to wander into the future and wonder when I will again be granted the sleep I need for my body to function well and for my mind to remember what I had for breakfast that morning.

And I could be consumed as I try to unlock the mystery of what kind of havoc is wreaking within my body to keep me awake at hours that should never be seen with human eyes.

Or, instead, I can choose to be obedient to God’s Word.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7)

Huh. Don’t be anxious. About anything? Really? How am I supposed to do that? I have to get up in 3 or 4 hours and work. And then take my son to the orthodontist. And go grocery shopping. And do it all with a smile on my face even though all I can is do relate to Snow White’s friend, Grumpy, and I just want to crawl back in bed. Not to mention the rest of the bizarreness going on in my body.

Ooooh. I see, Lord. There’s that word that interrupts everything. It screeches to a halt all that we have previously done or thought or felt.

But.

But we are to stop and bring EVERYTHING before the throne of grace and mercy, with a heart that remembers and is thankful for all that God has done for us before.

Remember that time when I thought we would have no Christmas gifts for our son BUT God provided them? Remember the time when my husband was laid off from four jobs in one year…while we were in the middle of buying a new house…BUT God provided a much better job and allowed us to still get the house?

Yes, Lord. I remember. I remember your goodness and faithfulness and mercy. You showed them then, and I know you will show them now. Thank you.

Ahhh. Peace is kicking out anxiety and his cohorts, frustration, worry and desperation.

I don’t understand why I’m going through this, but my Lord does. And that’s all that really matters. He gives me a peace that does not need understanding in order to have it; a supernatural peace that can come from only Him.

“Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true (Jesus), whatever things are honest (Jesus), whatever things are right (Jesus), whatever things are pure (Jesus), whatever things are lovely (Jesus), whatever things are of good report (Jesus); if there is any virtue (Jesus) and if there is any praise (Jesus), think on these things (Jesus).” (Phil. 4:8) (Not-so subliminal message mine.)