Give Me A Break | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Give Me A Break | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ingrid Forsberg
07/28/15
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“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11 KJV

It was my day off but that did not mean I got to rest. Living by myself met I had to do the wash, clean the house, drive thirty miles to buy groceries, rake a ton of leaves out of my front and back yards, and that was for starters. On top of that I was physically limited.

Exhausted, I flopped on my couch. I had been going nonstop for three or four years. Being Chaplain at the two juvenile probation camps kept me busy. There was always more to do and I did it day after day, month after month, year after year. It was a blessing, but it was getting harder and harder for me to keep up. I was wearing out. There were things at the house I had yet to get to.

I picked up my Bible and opened to Romans chapter eight. After reading through verse eleven I stopped and prayed, “Lord, I’m drained. I can’t keep going like this. Please do a Romans 8:11 on me and quicken my body. It’s feeling especially mortal right now.”

This was in Southern California, but Lake Hughes was in the mountains, high enough to have four seasons. Beneath the mountains rested a small lake. Year around I enjoyed beautiful views from my living room windows. Winter snow, spring green, lush summer, glowing fall, it was wonderful. I loved living there even though the cabin/house I rented was small and had an awkward floorplan. It looked like it originally was a cabin to which rooms had been added. The kitchen was like a narrow hall slapped onto an outside wall as an afterthought. The entire bathroom was the size of a large shower. There were two bedrooms, but the second was hardly big enough for a bed. I used it as an office. It was a peaceful place but I was not rested.

The phone rang. Setting down my Bible I answered it. Would I like to go as a guest to a weekend retreat for women? Oh yes. The timing was perfect. I needed to go. I had to go. I made arrangements for volunteers to cover the camps.

God knew I needed rest so I could continue my work there. He also knew I couldn’t afford to pay for a weekend retreat. But He heard my prayer and put it on someone’s heart to invite me and pay my way. I ate food I didn’t have to buy, cook, or wash the dishes after. I didn’t have to rake leaves or shovel snow. Without a load of responsibilities on my back I could rest, really rest. The ministry time was refreshing. I soaked in it. God quickened me. By the time I returned to Lake Hughes I was ready to go again. Invitations to retreats came more than once after that. Thank God for those weekend retreats. Honestly, I could not have continued without them.

Now I am aware of how important it is for pastors and others in church leadership to get breaks from time to time. Even a weekend away makes an enormous difference. Let God speak to your heart. Do what you can. Help those who minister in any area. Every one of us needs restful breaks sometimes.

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