Exhausted, I collapsed onto my bed in tears. It was about 1:00 pm, and I felt like I couldn’t go anymore.
I hadn’t gotten much sleep in the last few days, had so much left to do, kids to feed, and a house to clean. My youngest was sick for a few days, the dog had literally splattered the kitchen with explosive diarrhea the day before when Ernie and I spent an hour cleaning it before the sun came up, I had food to make for an event, a mile long to-do list, and I was already behind on laundry because of the extra washing of the vomit sheets. I already had my limit of coffee (yes, unfortunately I have a limit due to stomach upset), and the caffeine wasn’t cutting it anyway.
I cried out to the Father – exactly what He wanted me to do.
“I can’t go anymore today, I just can’t. I need You. Please give me the strength to go on because everyone is counting on me. I don’t have time to take a nap. I give it all to You, just take this… all of this.”
What happened next was a miracle. You know, it’s the little miracles we look right past sometimes. In my spirit, I was reminded of Philippians 4:8-9:
Whatever is true,
Whatever is honorable,
Whatever is just,
Whatever is pure,
Whatever is lovely,
Whatever is commendable,
If there is any excellence,
Anything worthy of praise,
Think about these things.
Those things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me do; and the God of peace will be with you.
I read that verse to myself, and I was impressed to do exactly what it says.
Think about those things. All I was thinking about was the negative….
I do everything for everyone, no one does all these things for me, if I want dinner I have to make it, no one makes dinner for me, if I want someone to cook dinner for me I have to go pay for it at a restaurant, I just need a shoulder massage (anybody?), I do all these things everyday and then I’m expected to do MORE things at the end of day after all these things are done, on top of that I have to make food for an event, I’m exhausted…
I know you’ve never felt that way before, right? I’m sure it’s just me.
In that moment, lying on my bed crying and crying out to God, I was instantly reminded to think on those things. What is true, honorable, lovely, pure, just, commendable, praise-worthy….
I immediately started to thank God for things in my life. Instead of the negativity, I began to say out loud, “Thank You for…
My kids,
Being able to stay home with my kids,
Good health,
A nice home,
My husband’s job,
Gas in my car,
Food on the table,
Healthy kids…”
And the list went on…
That’s a change in perspective isn’t it? I spoke out loud all those simple things I was thankful for. I immediately got up, dusted myself off, and I felt amazing. Seriously, like nothing was wrong anymore. I had so many good things to be thinking about, there really wasn’t a good enough reason for me to continue with the negative thinking.
I’m not at all making light of real problems, but we can all learn something here. Did it make all of my problems disappear? No. But it sure felt like they weren’t as big anymore.
I think it’s safe to say that most of us are thankful and grateful people, right? We’re thankful for so many things.
But sometimes our circumstances can blindside us and cause all that we’re thankful for to be forgotten in that moment of time.
I said…
But sometimes our circumstances can blindside us and cause all that we’re thankful for to be forgotten in that moment of time.
I mean seriously, who isn’t thankful for their family or their kids? But how many times do we let the little nuances of life get us in a state of constant frustration?
We have washing machines, dishwashers, robot vacuums, email, google, etc. Since we have all the latest technology to do things for us, we should have a lighter burden, right? But we don’t.
We’re filling our days and minutes with more stuff. It’s natural to be overwhelmed on occasion when we have a lot going on during certain times…
But to live like that on the daily or for an extended period – well, it’s a problem that’s affecting us differently today than it was for those in the past.
It’s called chronic overwhelm.
We hear things like, just give it all to God and everything will be okay…
While that’s true and agreeable among believers, giving it all to God is easier said than done. And we just don’t know exactly how or what to do about it.
We can say “I surrender all,” but what do we do afterwards? What actions can we apply to those words to make it really happen?
Recently, I revisited my “Peace” study and found something eye-opening.
Although I’m still studying every single line in depth, I want to share just one line of the scripture today –
Whatever is honorable.
The word honorable in this verse is translated from the word semnos, which comes from the root word sebomai. Sebomai [seb’-om-ahee] describes something as having weight, significance, something serious. It can also literally mean heavy.
I remember when our pastor gave an example of what this type of weight means:
Let’s say a famous person walks into the room. Because that person has weight, some people may get super excited and possibly faint. It’s because to them, they’re so honorable, and they mean something significant.
In today’s world, I notice more and more that the culture as a whole is focusing tremendously on things that have no real weight or significance.
I may say, “Oh not me… I don’t do that.”
But do I really?
We tend to give weight, or significance, to all the wrong things. And it’s so easy to do in America. For example, we’re so privileged and we literally have so much stuff, that it’s super easy to get caught up in the race for more material things. So much so, that we’ll finance the things we want so we can have it right now before we even have enough money for it. Then, we’re stuck with payments we thought we could afford. Been there done that.
But what are the things that have real meaning and add value to your life, to your Christian walk?
Are we giving the right things enough weight, value, or significance?
It’s funny how we’re able to give significance to so many things that have nothing to do with positivity or increasing spiritual value in our life.
For example, I’m not saying that sports aren’t valuable (I love sports), but how is it that we give SO much weight to Sunday’s football schedule, we plan gatherings around it, cook lots of food….
Yet when it comes to the things of God, we aren’t as excited. We don’t take it as serious.
Ouch. That’s a problem.
We wonder why we have so much going on, yet we’re not getting to do the things that really matter – the things that add value to our life.
What are we giving weight to? What are we giving significance to?
We say we have peace, yet our lives are so chaotic.
Then, those things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me do; and the God of Peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8
Peace is translated from eirene (1515) – rest, quietness. Also translated from the original Hebrew shalom (7965) – literally, “to be whole.”
To be whole. Wow.
Let’s do a little translation in place of peace to give a clearer meaning in the context, using the original text:
… and the God of Wholeness will be with you.
…and the God of Rest will be with you.
…and the God of Quietness will be with you.
We want all those things – wholeness, rest, quiet.
Then, do those things listed in verse 8.
Clearly, in verse 9, he says “Do those things which you have learned, and the God of Peace will be with you!”
That’s how we get peace! That’s how we get rest! Mental rest, mental clarity, mental peace. Think about these things!
We can choose to find good in every thing. I’ve done it. I can literally find good in every single situation, bad or good.
Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellence, worthy of praise…
Although physical rest is super important (it’s very important actually), is that really the kind of rest we’re seeking? Because if we’re getting enough physical rest, there may still be a puzzle piece missing. I know a thing or two about this in my own life, just saying 🙂
What if we focused on the things that have real weight, and continually gave due honor to the things that fulfill the values we believe in?
I hope this little portion of my study helps you today as you go through your everyday routine. Change some things up a bit, squeeze in some quiet time, write down your thankfulness, and watch your world change right before your eyes. Live on purpose.
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