A Deer

“My soul is dry and thirsts for You, True God, as a deer thirsts for water.” (Psalm 42:1, VOICE)

There are days when you are being pulled from so many different situations that you feel you’re not accomplishing much of anything. Burnout seems to be a real possibility that can leave you empty, discouraged and exhausted, with little energy for the important things of life like your spiritual well-being. It’s at times like these that you need to do what the lyrics of Jonny Diaz’s “Breathe” describe. Can you relate to the song below?

Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floor
It’s off to the races everybody out the door
I’m feeling like I’m falling behind, it’s a crazy life
Ninety miles an hour going fast as I can
Trying to push a little harder trying to get the upper hand
So much to do in so little time, it’s a crazy life
It’s ready, set, go it’s another wild day
When the stress is on the rise in my heart I feel you say just

Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe

Third cup of joe just to get me through the day
Want to make the most of time but I feel it slip away
I wonder if there’s something more to this crazy life
I’m busy, busy, busy, and it’s no surprise to see
That I only have time for me, me, me
There’s gotta be something more to this crazy life
I’m hanging on tight to another wild day
When it starts to fall apart in my heart I hear you say just

Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need

Is to take it in fill your lungs
The peace of God that overcomes
Just breathe
So let your weary spirit rest
Lay down what’s good and find what’s best
Just breathe

Just breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe
Just breathe

 How do you rejuvenate your soul in today’s busy world?  Below are ideas to replenish (or make complete again) the inner core of who you are:

 

1.   Be still: Taking time to “be still” may be harder today than ever. So much screams for our attention in this fast-paced, digital world. If we don’t intentionally take time to turn down life’s noise and be still, we could miss God’s quiet message to our hearts. If you aren’t intentionally setting aside one day a week to rest and worship, now is a good time to start. It is remarkable how quickly we can turn away from God when things do not go the way we believe they should go. During times of great disappointment and hurt, we can intentionally or subconsciously disconnect from God while we take care of our wounds.

     If your health allows it, go on a food fast, drink only water, and pray throughout the fast for God to show Himself to you, to teach you more about whom and what He is.  Dedicate specific times to talk and to listen to God, meditating on Him and praying for His wisdom, understanding and guidance in this and every situation. God often speaks to us in a still, small voice. Other times, He sends a meaningful message through a person or experience at the right moment.

2.   Get away: You don’t have to use vacation days or drive far away to take a break with God. You can pick a place close by to relax and simply enjoy His presence. Here are some ideas: a community park, a pool, a hammock or rocking chair, a quiet corner of an ice cream or coffee shop, a book store or library, or a spot by the water.

You might even bring some music or a journal. If you like to be active, try going on a hike or bike ride, kayaking, taking a one-person picnic, gardening or painting. Getting away doesn’t have to mean a change in your physical location as long as you’re getting away from daily stresses to spend time with God. There are so many thoughts crowding our minds that it can be hard to focus. We’re pulled in every direction, with this person or that thing demanding our attention.

Reconnect with People: Withdrawal from your community of friends and loved ones is a normal reaction when we’re hurt, betrayed or embarrassed about our heartache. It is also a way to remain depressed, feeding into the unfounded idea that because one person didn’t care then nobody cares.

Though many may not fully understand what you’re going through, there are people reaching out to you who will love you through your hard times—if you let them. No one is an island; we need each other to survive. Reach back out to those who are reaching out to you, or even those you may have cut off, and see how quickly your spirit will begin to heal.

3.   Release anger: It takes a lot of energy to be angry. Even moral anger can take its toll on your well-being when it contorts itself into hatred and loathing.  That hatred can rise like rage in your throat and grow so thick you choke on it if you’re not careful. Acknowledged your right to be angry and then released it.

What if you chose not to hate those who have made themselves your enemies? There are few things more liberating than regaining power over your own emotions in the face of an injustice done to you. When you choose to release your right be angry, you’re essentially deciding that your right to emotional, physical and spiritual health is more important.  Since energy is neither created nor destroyed, your anger must go somewhere.

4.   Reroute energy into purposeful action:  Everything that you’ve ever done is preparing you for what you will do. Everything that you’ve been put through is positioning you to become who you were meant to be. If you believe this, than you know that your life and mission are so much bigger than the heartache you’re experiencing right now.

With a renewed sense of purpose, use every drop of anger, hatred and hurt that you were once directing toward the source of your heartache and reroute it into intentional actions that will bring you even closer to becoming who you were created to be.

5.   Rest: Sleep was designed to have a restorative effect on your entire being. While you sleep, your body rejuvenates and your energy is conserved. Sleep can quite literally heal your heart by decreasing your risk of a heart attack.

In addition to decreasing the likelihood of inflammation around your heart, getting more than six hours of sleep a night, every night, will sharpen your memory and increase your emotional stability by delaying depression. As best you can, make getting a good night’s rest a priority so that you can wake-up with a clear head and a renewed energy.

Crowds of people were coming and going. Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, “Come with me. We will go to a quiet place to be alone. There we will get some rest.” (Mark 6:31, ICB)[i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “[THE SPIRITUAL LIFE] 5 Ways to Restore Your Spirit” by Brooke Obie

·        “5 Ways to Replenish a Burned-Out Soul” by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

 

The topic for this post was suggested by my wife, Bobbi.