"Rest Is Good"

By Zach Wood

Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

 

 

The past two weeks have been very eventful to say the least.  I was preparing for a week for a Sunday sermon every evening.  I was also getting music ready for our VBS program.  VBS week came and went by quickly.  We had a great time, but we were all very exhausted.  Last week, I came down with a cold and joined our daughter Hayven who has been dealing with congestion for the past few weeks.  So much has been going on and I have found it hard to just sit down and take a breather.  The days went by quickly and kind of seem like a blur.  My mind was racing so much I failed to send out a devotional to share with you all.  I missed sharing one with you.

 

In the midst of these things that have happened, God has reminded me that I must rely on Him for my strength.  I get run down and do not pay attention to the rest I need and just keep my body going.  Many of us have done this and we end up paying for it with health issues.  This passage in Isaiah is neat in how it explains that we need strength from the Lord to renew ourselves.  We not only need spiritual renewal, but we also need physical renewal as well. 

 

It is so often easy for us to neglect the fact that we need our Father to guide us, renew us and revive us in our daily lives.  If we simply go about our days and live the way we think is best, we run out of steam fast.

 

I am trying to learn each day this week that rest is what I need and that I do not need to be doing something all the time when I am home.  Sometimes, I just need the help of my Father in reminding me that renewal is good and is needed for good health.  When we ignore our spiritual renewal, we run dry.  When we ignore our physical renewal, we lose strength.  Maybe you have found yourself lately running out of steam and gasping for air.  He does give strength to the weary and provides renewal.