Making time to rest

Laura Digan December 19, 2022 0 2

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Psalm 80 (NRSVA)

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
2     before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
    and come to save us!

3 Restore us, O God;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved.

4 O Lord God of hosts,
    how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears,
    and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us the scorn of our neighbours;
    our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved.

8 You brought a vine out of Egypt;
    you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it;
    it took deep root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
    the mighty cedars with its branches;
11 it sent out its branches to the sea,
    and its shoots to the River.
12 Why then have you broken down its walls,
    so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
13 The boar from the forest ravages it,
    and all that move in the field feed on it.

14 Turn again, O God of hosts;
    look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
15     the stock that your right hand planted.
16 They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down;
    may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
17 But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
    the one whom you made strong for yourself.
18 Then we will never turn back from you;
    give us life, and we will call on your name.

19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved.

‘Restore Us, O God Almighty, 

Well restore me, O God Almighty’

This has been my prayer for about six weeks now. I have had throat infection after throat infection and nothing seems to be shifting it. It is really bringing me down. A friend told me this week that the only way that the antibiotics will work is if I rest. I felt her words hit me hard and realised the Lord was speaking directly to me through her. 

Because the truth is I’m not sure when I last properly rested. I’ve had a full-on first year in ministry and when I have taken time off I’m usually looking after family. There hasn’t been any time just for me, time for me to rest and restore my energy. 

And now I feel my body is forcing me to take that rest. 

The Lord wants to restore me but he needs me to work with him to make that happen. And so after this week I will be taking a few weeks off to fully rest and restore my energy. I am making time for self care.

I’m sharing this as the Lord is telling me it isn’t just me. That there are others within our community who are pushing themselves too hard. This is a busy time of year and this has been a hard year for so many of us. The Lord wants to restore you but you must first take time to stop and rest. 

PRAYER:

Almighty God

Restore us and make your face shine upon us

Help us Lord to make time to rest

Help us Lord to make time to care for our minds, our bodies and our spirits

Help us Lord to make time to be still

Restore us and make your face shine upon us

Amen.