”By the seventh day God hands finished the work he had been doing, so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” -Genesis 2:2
As a parent of 2 young boys the word exhaustion has taken on new meaning for Lindsey and I. We thought we had life figured out and a sleep schedule down with Eli. In our minds we were thinking hey we have this parenting aspect down with one kid, how hard can a second one be. Man were we wrong, talk about a complete change and a whole new level of tired. Eli’s sleep schedule of going to bed at 8:30 went out the window because he knows Silas is in our room. Jimmy Fallon is now a regular part of our night and nap time is now a battle once again. You get Eli down and SIlas is back up or viceversa. The other day my father in law was watching the boys while I was at work and till I came home you could tell he was straight up worn out. He went on to tell me that he had about a 10 minute wincdow of both boys being asleep that day. He was worn. The demands on life with two youngsters are great. Diapers to change, the constant need to be fed, and if you know Eli at all, you know he is full speed ahead.
I wonder if that is how Jesus felt at times. The constant needs of others pulling at him. Place to be, events to be part of. Teaching to be done, healing to take place. Nonstop. He is probably laughing at me right now as I write this going, “You have no idea of the word exhaustion.” He is honestly probably giving me the look that Lindsey and I give to those who don’t have kids when they tell us how tired they are.
This whole thought of exhaustion though has really forced me to look at Scripture and the idea of taking a Sabbath, of resting. It isn’t something that God just recommends or says hey here is a good idea for you, it is a command. Honor it, make it holy, rest. To be honest I struggle with it and Lindsey will point that out in my life, asking me, “Josh when is your Sabbath?” And I will struggle to answer. “Well a little bit here and a few moments there.”
Exodus 20: 8, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.”
God gave us the example from the very beginning. He worked for six days in creation and he rested. Jesus gave us the example in taking time away and even falling asleep on the boat. We need to make time to rest. No wonder son many of us burn out because we define our lives with how busy we are. We feel the need to always be doing something. What would our lives look like if we truly learned to stop and rest in His presence. We continue to pour out and pour out, yet we never stop to take the time to be recharged. I will never about a year ago we took Eli to the zoo with my Poppop. It was a Sunday afternoon and all the animals were sleeping. Literally all of them. Call it coincidence, but I believe it was God’s way of telling me, “You see Josh even these animals know the importance of a rest, when will you learn?” But God I have so much to do. What are your excuses?
Do I have a consistent Sabbath at this point? Honestly, no, but I am working on it. So if you see me, ask how I am doing. Seriously I am putting it out there. Hold me accaountable. At this point I am learning how to just embrace the silence. To enjoy the still in my life in those brief moments I get, and to make the most of the times my boys are asleep. What is it you can start doing? Will you honor the Sabbath and follow God’s command. I would hate for any of us to stand before God one day and Him say, ‘I had so much more for you but you were just to busy..”
Brotha, this is so good. Appreciate you and your writing. Keep up the great work, Mr. Knipple!
On Thu, May 24, 2018, 5:24 AM Faith… through the eyes wrote:
> Josh Knipple posted: “”By the seventh day God hands finished the work he > had been doing, so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” > -Genesis 2:2 As a parent of 2 young boys the word exhaustion has taken on > new meaning for Lindsey and I. We thought we had life figured” >