Restore my soul

Do you find yourself getting stuck in emotions like boredom, frustration, weariness, anxiety, anger? Are there days that you sigh deeply far more often than you smile? If you do – join the quarantined rest of us. It is all a normal reaction to extended quarantine. I find myself wondering, how can I experience these feelings when I’m not doing much of anything? How can I feel tired and listless when there are fewer demands on my time and energy? These are difficult days people. Our days blur together. We lose track of what day it is, what happened last week. Sometimes we just feel like crying.
This morning I recalled the wisdom of St. Augustine. “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” During this quarantine I am more aware of how restless my heart is. Reading, watching television, talking on the phone, eating a good homemade meal all help, but I need more to be restored. God gave us restless hearts so that we will not be satisfied with anything less than God. Good people, Our Shepherding God will take the burden of anxiety from our restless souls if we give him time to do that. The promise of Psalm 23 is strong and true:
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
Take time to rest beside still waters – every day. Unburden yourself (even out loud.) Let God hear every grievance, every complaint, every frustration. Vent as needed. Sigh and moan. Then allow yourself to be still. To rest. To breathe deeply. To be restored. Our Shepherd is right there with us.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
Amen.
Pastor Michael

I have told you before just how much rest, peace, and encouragement I receive from the daily meditations on the website www.pray-as-you-go.org. Today’s meditation was especially helpful. As I listened, I was wishing that all of you could have been there with me. It’s a little over twelve minutes long. Perhaps you can check it out.