Time To Take A Breath

Time To Take A Breath

Audio Version Coming Soon!

When I was sitting among the birds today, I considered the diverse groups of people caught up in the pandemic. Some have personally been touched by the virus, lost loved ones, others separated from their loved ones that are sick. That is a heartache. Then there are those losing their job, working from home, kids doing school from home, workers in flux trying to balance work, family, and life from a confined and sometimes from what suddenly seems like a crowded space.

There are times we feel like the days are too short, the nights even shorter, sleep ever evasive. The list of things that need to be accomplished seems to become longer and longer.

At this point, I’m relating to the need to take some time, unplug, refocus, and refresh my soul. But, how?

What about Jesus as my source, can He relate to what I am facing? Does He know how I’m feeling? Does Jesus understand those who are sick and those who are living in perilous times? Did Jesus face a tumultuous and violent society with those in power and those who are not?  As I read about Jesus’ life, I find He lived in the middle of all that we could face and a bit more.

Jesus was facing those who were in desperate pursuit to put Him to death. But that did not deter Jesus from intimately teaching his disciples and those who were following Him. He healed the sick, setting people free who were bound by demons, and showed the people how to love. People wanted to hear from Jesus. He has a message of hope.

Jesus is not just talking about hope and how to live. He IS living it.

Jesus says that we are to be connected to Him, learning from Him, and following His lead. When we do we will find peace in the midst of the storm. We will know that regardless of the circumstance the Holy Spirit will guide us, give us wisdom and strength.

He may or may not take us out of the situation, but He will always give us what we need to go through what we are facing. The KEY? Spending time with Him. Believing that He has our best in His heart and plan for our lives. He knows what we need, what skills, what knowledge, what physical, spiritual, and emotional muscles we need to build. He is there working it all out with and for our good.

In Ephesians Paul encourages us saying:

“That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles.

This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone.

God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation.

Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.”

Ephesians 2:19-22 MSG

My favorite part of these verses…“We see it is taking shape day after day – a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.”

I need to take time to be with Him. When I don’t listen to Him, I become overwhelmed with the “proverbial list” and miss the essence of what He has planned for me.

What a gift to be a temple in which God is quite at home. The picture that comes to mind brings such peace and balance to me. We don’t need to be an over-achiever or feel guilty because we’re not; we simply need to spend time with our Father, our Savior, and invite in the Holy Spirit. When we do that, we open the windows of heaven full of incredible freedom to be everything God has created us to be.

In those hard places, those overwhelming circumstances we have a place to go: to God.

When I was a younger mom, even the bathroom was a sacred place for a few minutes just talking to God; telling Him I was His, but I needed His help. I needed Him to breathe on me, breath His breath of Life in me.

With all my flaws, weaknesses, and strengths,  when connected with God, there was nothing we couldn’t do together.

I don’t believe there was even one time that I felt like God missed my call for help. I didn’t always get what I wanted, but I ALWAYS got what I needed.

Are we that “temple” that God is quite at home in; not because we’re so strong and good but because we are needy and He is filling the need?