The deepest renewal

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. (Desmond Tutu) 

But those who trust in the Lord will become strong again. They will be like eagles that grow new feathers. They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired. (Isaiah 40:31)

As we walk throughout our day, weariness can come upon us after much toil and hard work, right? Did you know that we don't even need to toil to tire? Ever hear of a friend say they were more tired when they got out of bed than they were when they went to bed? Weariness is both a state of mind and body - it includes our spirit, soul, and all that makes us human. The 'strain' of life doesn't have to be physical - emotional strain can take more out of us than a hard day's labor. Sometimes we grow weary because we become dissatisfied with how long something is taking - like an answer to our prayers. Even the most 'balanced' individual can grow weary spiritually and emotionally. That is why it is so important that we recharge ourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We can be all 'charged up' at the beginning of our day, or the challenge that lies ahead, but does that 'charge' always last? NO! We need time to recharge with Christ in the midst of it all. It is easy to get caught up in all that is going on around us and miss that God is beckoning us into a little time alone with him. Time in prayer, worship, and in the Word. Time that will recharge our 'batteries' and help us be ready for whatever is about to come next. We might try to push past the weariness, but the more we do, the harder it becomes to resist the things which arise from that weariness. Things like words that are a little too 'clipped' or 'brash', or perhaps withdrawal into an 'emotional dark hole' that seems to surround us with no way out. Before that happens - take time!

We only see light in the midst of the darkness because we have taken time to refill our spirit, settle our emotions, and reenergize our minds. There is no better place to find light for the situation than in the presence of Jesus. It isn't a 'room' as much as it is giving him room to work within us. We might think of the need to renew as going to a place, but God tells us it is him taking our place that actually brings the deepest renewal. Just sayin!