Too Many Green Lights. Time for Some Yellow Lights.

Friends. Essays. Test. Commitments. Obligations. Homework.  Family. Burdens. Entertainment. Sleep. 

It seems to be so easy to fill up each day with so much – sometimes even more than we realize.  Somehow we take it on, tackle it, and do it again day after day. I know I am not the only one guilty of this. 

So where do we draw the line? When do we stop? When do we just take a minute to step back and breathe? If you are like me, you do not do it enough. At all. 

It is exam week for me– a week full of all nighters, several cups of coffee, stress, and saying “see you later” to friends. It is when we have to balance our time better than we have. For others, stress is hitting hard because it is getting closer to the holidays, work is stressful, money is tight, or things at home are rough. Time for ourselves is less and less and we forget how important it truly is (Although cliché, it is so true). 

 I sat down to study today (no, not cramming for once) and it was the first time in a while where I just sat totally unrushed. I got my cup of coffee, turned on some great worship music, and took a deep breath. Almost instantly, I felt God’s presence. I was worshiping God and He was taking full advantage of the time I was giving Him.

In that moment, God pointed something obvious out. I need to slow down. I keep myself a little too busy and just forget to sit back and let God mold me for a minute.  After all, God says, “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10)

How often did you see Jesus stress because of time? After all, Jesus knew the scriptures.” [God] has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecc. 3:11). Jesus spent every second in worship of God.

Funny how we love to feel God’s presence and desire Him to work in us but we never give Him the chance.  Maybe it is time to start saying “no” to some things that cause the hecticness and stop telling ourselves that we will have a chance to slow down. If you plan on resting on Sunday, for example, odds are that you will find something else to fill that time with. Start today. Sit back and let God work in you – enjoy all of the beautiful things He has created. 

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)