Dragging
I was dragging when I walked into the restaurant to meet my friend for lunch. My energy level was low and I was struggling to think clearly. As the waitress came over to take my drink order I said, “I will take water and plenty of it.” A few moments later she showed up with this giant glass of water! When I started laughing she said, “This way I will not have to refill it.”
Throughout lunch, she would stop by to check on us and would always smile at the large pitcher of water I was drinking. Turns out it was a liter of water. Partway through lunch I could tell my hydration was better, my energy level was up and I was thinking clearer. My pitcher of water was slowly restoring my body and mind.
Restored
Later in the day, I was thinking about how that water restored my body. There is a life-giving quality that water brings to our bodies. Ever since chemotherapy I have had to pay special attention to being hydrated. In those moments when I am weak, I am encouraged by the way a few glasses of water can restore my body and mind.
I was drawn to the 23rd Psalm.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. – Psalm 23
“He restores my soul” There will be seasons in life when my soul needs to be restored. I may feel attacked by those who do not have my best interest at heart or maybe the road I am traveling is dark and filled with dangers. Maybe grief and illness will weave a tapestry of sadness in a particular season of life. Whatever the reason life becomes difficult and we begin to struggle.
In those darkest of moments, it does us well to remember, “He restores my soul.”
It took me about half an hour to forty-five minutes to drink that glass of water. Slowly as I drank my body regained strength, my energy level returned, and I began to think clearly. I was restored.
What If?
What if in our darkest of moments we made it a practice to set aside thirty minutes to be still and quiet with the “restorer of our souls?” If you are like me there are common responses to the darkest of times. In some moments I am frozen. Frozen in fear of what might be. I am unable to think or move and I sit still wallowing in the darkness of the moment. Other times I feel almost compelled to perform my way into a better place. It is as if something is telling me everything relies upon my ability to work harder, smarter, faster. The darkness will only be defeated if I rise to the occasion and perform better.
Remaining frozen or being stuck on the hamster wheel of performance rarely do anything to restore my soul. Moving in either way seems to cause me to feel more worn down and exhausted. Life continues to feel overwhelming.
Embracing the Restorer of My Soul
In those moments when we feel most compelled to either sit and do nothing or required to perform our way into a better place what would happen if we carved out time to simply be with Abba? What would happen if we turned our backs on the things of this world and embraced the one who claims to be the restorer of our souls?
The next time you are worn down, defeated, exhausted, at the end of your rope, wondering how you will take another step forward, pour yourself a large glass of water and sit down in silence with the restorer of your soul. Open the scriptures and read from the Psalms. Turn off the television and turn on some worship music. Dedicate thirty minutes to simply spending time with Abba and see how God meets you in the quiet and restores your soul.
God is Good All the Time; All the Time God is Good
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