Thursday before last was a good day. Actually, I had experienced a productive week and was looking forward to the weekend. My Saturday was going to be full and during the day on Thursday I confirmed my participation at a breakfast meeting, writers’ workshop and family get-together. Friday morning was a different story. I had serious intense pain all across my lower back. I made it into work (barely) and found it difficult to sit, stand or walk for even short periods of time. I made an urgent appointment with my physiotherapist who confirmed: muscular spasms! The pain was worse than labour pains. I couldn’t lie down, sit up straight, slouch, walk without holding my back or move without crying out. It was not pretty. Worse of all, my entire weekend was erased in the blink of any eye, just like that. I couldn’t believe it. As the days wore on, Monday found me at my GP getting a shot for the pain (in another very big muscle below my waist which will remain unmentioned here) and time off from work with more physiotherapy. But isn’t life interesting? I had been trying to slow down for the longest time but always felt there was way too much to be done. I am sure many of you can relate to the projects that keep finding their way on to your desk before you have even had a chance to finish the ones from before, the house work, the spouse/significant work, the ‘children’ work … it never seems to end. Yet God ended it for me. He had His own plans for my weekend and the week after; He just included a major set of pain to get my attention once and for all.
We cannot see into the future but God can. He knows the number of the hairs on our heads and He knows the plans He has not only for me but for you, your family and friends, and your careers. As Jeremiah shows us, the plans include prosperity and safety for today and for the future but if we continue to dash frantically hither, thither and yon without slowing down even enough to spend quality time with our Abba Father, He is going to send a red flag or two to get our attention. So I rest and rest and rest. I still think resting is over-rated and I am disheartened to see the world (and everyone else in it) spinning along without me but I can confirm for sure that God has the full attention of this tired little sparrow! So what are your plans? Is God involved in the planning? I encourage you to let Him be a wonderful part of the process and to remember that rest is just as, if not more important than, work.
Verses for reflection
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 12:7 (NIV)
Gale Weithers 