Jet Lagged
It’s 2:38 am and I’m wide awake.
We arrived in Kauai, Hawaii 36 hours ago after a 15-hr journey (with a long layover in Honolulu) during which I slept 2.5 hours, so the first night I slept nearly 12 hours! But tonight is a different story.
I’m sitting in the lounge balcony listening to the ocean waves and trying to recall the names of constellations.
It’s good to be still, to be alone, to listen.
I pray for those near and far and then listen some more.
I hear God remind me of a passage:
“He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.” Psalms 107:29-30 NKJV
It’s been a busy year – the weeks and months flew by as a blur. Nothing is slowing down, either – the calendar is already filled until April 2020 with events and activities.
In the midst of the relentlessness of modern life with its many demands it’s good to take a moment to pause.
We are meant to pause more often, through weekly Sabbaths and daily quiet times.
But we move too fast through the days and weeks and experience jet lag – feeling mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually disoriented and drained from the speed with which we travel through life without proper adjusting and resting.
Even holidays are just layovers if we don’t take proper regular time in life’s journey to recover from the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual pressures. We were created to be re-created every Sabbath (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11) but we have missed the brief over the years.
Re-creation involves healing, reconciling, remembering, releasing – letting go of burdens and chains that limit us from moving on, embracing people and challenges we need to accept, and learning from our past to make better choices for today.
Re-creation can only fully happen when we immerse into the invitation of God to
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
It’s 3:25 am now and the rhythmic crashing of the waves is lulling me to drowsiness. It feels good to be sleepy, to feel ready for rest.
To know that I have left my prayer petitions with God and He will hear me.
“Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! . . . Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalms 46:3, 10 NLT.
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” Psalms 4:8 NLT
by: Jinha Kim
"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14