This has been an overwhelming week, from missing class with a migraine that wouldn't go away, to extremely late nights due because of hard homework assignments, to difficult things happening in my family, to my apartment being in complete disarray and chaos. I found my attitude towards every getting progressively worse as the week went on. I found discontentment and bitterness creeping into my heart. I found I wasn't loving others as I need to.
It was really a case of self-centeredness, or ingrown eyeballs, as I have heard it so aptly named.
My dad would say that I needed an attitude adjustment. He'd be right.
Have you ever been with a group and someone disappears for a few minutes? And you wonder what they are doing. I have a confession. Sometimes, I am that person who sneaks away to the bathroom. Sometimes, I just need a few minutes. I really love people, but I am slightly more introverted than extroverted. So, sometimes I need to get away from the noise for just a bit. Then I am golden, down for anything. It's like pushing the reset button.
Well, by the end of this week, I needed to push the reset button. Yesterday afternoon and today have been the reset button days. Getting some much needed sleep, getting the dishes done, and getting caught up on communication-type things were all needed. And, I did them. But there was something needed even more.
In the Gospels, we read that Jesus would sometimes go off and seclude Himself. What was He doing? Matthew 14: 23 tells us, "After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray;" Jesus knew the best reset button was to pray, to talk with His Father. And, because of Jesus, because He paid for our sins on the cross, the veil was torn in two. That means, we can go and talk to the Father any time, day or night. Whenever we need to hit the reset button, He's there.
Earlier in Matthew 14, Jesus had secluded Himself, and when He came ashore, He saw thousands of people waiting for Him. We read that He felt compassion on them. He was able to serve and love others well, because He had spent time with the Father. That is where He got His strength to do what His Father had sent Him here to do. So, I am reminded today, that when I am overwhelmed, I can and must run to the Father. Time with Him is the best 'reset' button.
Just like a good nap usually helps you see things more clearly, time with God completely changes your perspective on life. Plus, it's amazingly refreshing.
In an email I received recently, someone reminded me of this, "But God is using all of these experiences and training to
prepare you as His instrument." I am so thankful for that reminder. Because it's true. God uses everything to prepare us for what He has for us in the future.
Now that the reset button has been pushed, let's do this thing called life.
