We Need Rest

Recently I’ve grown fond of watching the once popular TV series “Downton Abbey.” What I’ve learned is that in my house, we seem to be short a valet, a butler, a ladies maid, a head maid, any maids, a cook, an assistant cook, a kitchen helper, a few footmen, a nanny, a chauffeur, a gardener, a head gardener, and a miscellaneous rabble of others whose sole purpose in life would be to make my life less stressful. Instead, like everyone else, I get to do most of those things myself, while being gainfully employed elsewhere.

A house staff would have been tremendously helpful this past week, which was no fun and I was pretty sure I was going to have an aneurysm more than once. Given my family history, it would be no surprise. Imagine a perfect storm of every deadline due at once at one job, while the secondary job kicks back in on a new and longer route (which means waking up even earlier than usual), school starts, your child’s new bus schedule is horrific, all the while keeping the people you love clean, fed and happy. I know there are many out there who have found themselves in the same place. It reminds me of my favorite quote from the Dowager Countess of Grantham on “Downton Abbey” who said, “All life is a series of problems which we must try and solve. First one, and then the next, and then the next until at last we die.” Yea verily.

Well, I lived through it. And not due to my own strength, fortitude or stamina. I was borne along on a stream of prayers, carried on the shoulders of caring friends, nurtured by the love of God who had not abandoned me. In fact, he continued to answer all sorts of prayers. So even though I looked and felt like I’d been dragged through the mud, there was much more going on behind the scenes than people realized. God is great, mighty, and holy. He is worthy of all praise. Even now, while words are falling out of my brain and my mind is becoming quickly incapable of creating a structured thought, God is good.

“How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.” (Psalm 31:19, NIV)

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him…” (Nahum 1:7, NIV)

Even Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed, “It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders, His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:2-3, NIV)

A dear friend sent me a card this week, reminding me of the verses from Philippians 1:3-11 which buoyed my spirits tremendously. Here is the beginning:

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6, NIV

Talking this over with my daughter, who loves to have meaningful conversation when I’m struggling to be coherent, she shared the following with me: “Verses don’t really help me. I just listen to them because people make me.” Ha ha, straight from the lips of my 8-year-old Sage. I understand. Sometimes things are overwhelming and having verses thrown at you is no help at all. However, please humor me for one more verse.

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” Genesis 2:2, NIV

Sometimes, God knows that what we really need more than anything, is a rest. Amen to that.