Before the Busy Strikes

Life is busy. Sometimes it’s just plain chaotic and stressful. Some mornings I wake up and just want to erase everything from my to-do list and take a moment to breathe. Then make some tea, shop, watch a movie… all those things I don’t always make time for in the day-to-day rush.
 
Big shocker… most days I just can’t do this.
 
However, what I can do, and often forget to do, is take a deep breath and lift my stress and exhaustion to God.
 
Have you ever had one of those friends that doesn’t even have to do anything, but somehow makes everything all better? Somehow by talking to them your concerns are lifted and your left feeling less stressed. Think about that friend for a moment. It may be a childhood friend, someone you recently met and clicked with, or even your mom! For me, my mom definitely fits this role. I also have a couple friends that do... friends from childhood and college.
 
For this person to assume that role in your life, you had to get to know each other. In my case, I’m not quick to trust someone and be vulnerable with my struggles. It takes me time to develop this level of friendship. Whether or not you relate to me with you vulnerability, to reach this point with your safe people, you probably had to learn about them, them about you, and you had to grow to sense their care for you, to understand their humor, and all those things good friends do!
 
Friends aren’t available all the time, and as wonderful as they are, they are not meant to meet our every need. You were created with a hole that only Jesus can fill. But in your exhaustion, you cannot call out to someone you don’t know and expect to be fixed and filled. Before you reach your endpoint, you have to get to know Jesus so that you can see Him working in your stress, and so that you desire His love and can recognize it in your life.
 
Let me encourage you today to delve deeper than ever into getting to truly know Jesus. Not just popular verses, or passages that make you feel good. Truly study scripture to get to know Jesus’ character. I’m speaking this to myself as well! Whether you’re in the midst of a chaotic time and you’re facing a tough trial, or you’re feeling great and experiencing a break from the rush, you’re not too late! Jesus is closer than you know.
 
 “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:12-13

​By: Emily Norton