Jump Start # 3902
2 Corinthians 7:5 For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side; conflicts without and fears within.”
A couple of days ago, our Jump Start took us through the “Seasons of Depression.” That was a recent class that I taught. Our verse today leads to Paul being depressed. God sent Titus to be his comfort, relief and help.
Paul was troubled within and without. Conflicts on the outside and fears on the inside, and a much overlooked expression in our passage is, “our flesh had no rest.” What a vivid description of our times. We squeeze out as much of a day at it can give us. Always on the run, always having things to do, finally, collapsing in bed late at night, exhausted, knowing that this will all start over again in the morning. Resting and laziness are not related to each other. They do not dwell on the same street.
After six days of creation, God rested. God built into Israel’s week a Sabbath rest. Yet, our culture doesn’t do well with resting. Make more hay while it’s daylight. Keep pushing yourself. And, the result is that we shuffle into the church building Sunday morning, desperately needing more rest. Sitting still through a sermon is hard for some, because we are never still unless we are asleep and that’s what happens to many during worship.
Another side effect of tired souls is weary hearts. Discouragement thrives off of tired spirits. Our verse tells us that Paul had no rest. The next verse reveals that he was depressed. Those aren’t odd coincidences, but directly related to one another. And, yet another, deeper side effect is what it does to our souls. Too tired to pray. Too stressed to worship. Too much to do to help others. And, without realizing it, we offer God the left overs of our time and hearts.
These are our times. What can one do?
First, realize that you cannot accomplish everything, especially not today. It’s ok if you didn’t get all the laundry done today. It’s ok if you didn’t get through all your emails today. It’s ok if you didn’t check off everything on your to do list today. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Using your time wisely and being efficient and organized can help you a lot. Some are masters at this. Some need a lot of help in this area.
Second, resting the mind and soul brings a wonderful refreshing help to you. We may sit down, but with the TV on, phones in our hands, dog barking, kids acting up, there is little rest. Go sit on your back porch with a cup of coffee. Listen to the birds and the breeze through the trees. Count your blessings. Slow down and be still as the Psalmist declared.
God saw to it that Israel rested once a week. How often do we do it? Not a vacation. Not sleeping in on a Saturday morning, but unplugging from the world and allowing God to be God. Sundays can be that day for us if we allow it. You and God. Just air out your heart and your head from all the troubles and things that have to be done. Enjoy a moment with the Lord. Let the peace of God guard your heart. Don’t be in a hurry to rush through worship.
Third, when we are weary, we tend to be cranky and short with one another. “I’m sick and tired of seeing this mess,” a mom screams at her kids. What an accurate statement. Mom is tired. And, that tiredness is making her sick. We become bothered more when we are tired. Our patience runs thin when we are tired. So, the solution is to get some rest. Go for a walk in the neighborhood. Get outside and get some fresh air.
The Revelation vision speaks of the dead in Christ who “rest from their labors.” Their labor wasn’t housework or being at the office for decades. The labor was in Christ. The labor was remaining faithful in a hostile environment. The labors were preaching and teaching God’s word. They would be given a rest. But notice, there is a labor that comes before the rest. Some want the rest, but they haven’t labored. Oh, they have been busy, but the kingdom was ignored while they did what they wanted to do. Here, the thought is someone who has worn themselves out in the kingdom and awaiting them was a sweet rest in the Lord.
Paul’s flesh had no rest. The troubles didn’t let up. The opposition didn’t take a day off. There was no vacation for the devil. Weary and worn, God sent Titus to be Heaven’s encouragement to him. And, that spiritual fellowship is one of the best ways our weary souls find the rest that it needs. Surround yourself with those who love the Lord and are Heaven bound.
Sometimes we have no rest and it’s by our own doing. Make some adjustments and come to God with an eager heart that wants to say, “Thank you.”
Roger