Refreshed. . . Memory Monday

There are moments in life when the lights of my soul turn on again. I faintly hear the angels singing and life feels full of potential and opportunity even in the face of adversity.

Those are the days I can’t wipe a silly grin from my face and my responsibilities seem manageable and I don’t feel overwhelmed.

Today is one of those days. It seems like it has been weeks since the sun has shined brightly. No I wasn’t depressed, but life felt heavy. I felt chronically behind and burdened by my mistakes. It wasn’t any fun at all.

But I didn’t really do anything about my funk. I just kept plodding along sure it would go away. I had moments when the heaviness would flee. Moments when I praised God and moments when my three children played well together. But they were fleeting moments. I told myself truth. I have victory in Christ. I am not a failure, but I am a sinner. God’s grace is sufficient.

Yet the darkness continued. It didn’t leave until I did something different – until I gave myself permission to take a break. I’ll admit I wasn’t looking forward to this planned hiatus. I doubted I needed it or that this break would help. I would just get further behind in all the things I was already behind.

But take the break I did and guess what? Today I am refreshed. It is as if I forgot that God created us with the need for the Sabbath. A need to take a break, rest, and enjoy life. My little hiatus was exactly what I needed and today I see the glory of God on display even on this cloudy day.

How do we take a break?

• Give yourself permission to take a break.
• Enjoy your break without making a list of all the things you need to do.
• Laugh at yourself.
• Rest in knowing God took a break.
• Remember God gives you the grace to do His will, but not to take on things outside His will.
• Look for the beauty in life and appreciate those moments.
• Then tell people about the beauty God gives your life.

It is memory Monday and guess what our next verse in Psalm 40 is all about proclaiming God’s goodness. We are working on Psalm 40:9. Join us it is never too late to memorize scripture.