2:164 – If You Stop To Think, Don’t Forget to Start Again

#faithbites #faithjourney think

I am sick. Not mentally sick, well ok, yes I am. But now, I’m physically sick. I have the post conference crud. When you are hacking up a lung. I don’t have time to be sick. But I’ve at least stayed home and tried to work so I don’t get too far behind. Maybe it’s my body saying I need rest. Maybe it’s, just a cold. When it happens, it’s a wake-up call for me to take care of myself. Sometimes you need to stop. It could be you need to rest, it could be you need space, or time to think. The biggest thing to remember is when you stop to think (or rest), don’t forget to start again.

This doesn’t mean that rest is bad or even to go back to what you were doing before. It means to take the rest, have the thoughts, and move forward. For me, when I stop and don’t start again, I go downhill. Just remember, resting gives us the energy and direction to move forward.

Scripture

• But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. – 2 Chronicles 15:7
• Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

Reflection

In the past, I’ve written about taking a rest, just like God did on the seventh day of creation. Now we are talking about moving forward. In 2 Chronicles, I know I don’t think I’ve pulled from here before either, we see never to give up. God has our back. Taking a rest, isn’t giving up. It’s giving us the strength through Christ, to move forward. Galatians repeats this theme of not giving up and reaping the harvest.

I know I probably could have gone into work. I may have gotten a bit more work done. More likely, I would have gotten others sick and myself worse. I know either tomorrow or Monday, I will be back in the office. Feeling stronger and talking the duties I need to. Why? Because stopping to rest and heal isn’t giving up. It’s giving energy to start again.

Charge

Are you feeling down and out? Are you struggling to move forward? Take the rest you need. Listen to your body and the Lord. Then, and you will know, take that new energy and begin again.

Prayer

Lord, help me get over this sickness. Help the medicines and rest make me feel better. Remind all of us that stopping isn’t giving up. Resting is what you’ve commanded us to do. Help each one of us to begin again after a setback or rest. Thank you for all your blessings. Amen.