There IS rest for the weary!

Good morning and Happy Wednesday!

Yesterday was… tough.

Not so much spiritually or emotionally. Not even because of food cravings and the like (though, I won’t deny that a nice juicy steak would’ve brightened my world a bit). No, it started getting tough because, I believe, of the caffeine withdrawals. Yesterday was day 4 without drinking any caffeine (though I realized on day 3 that the medicine I was taking to combat the headaches contains a significant amount – dang it)… and day 4 with a migraine-like headache. I expected it this time. Drank as much water as possible, even took some Aleve once the pain started (no caffeine in Aleve)… but, by the end of the day I was just… drained… and disappointed.

Disappointed because I did not feel that my head could handle the worship and prayer meeting at church – so I skipped it. Disappointed because the pain was so great and exhausting that I could hardly even stand even keeping my eyes open – so I didn’t get any of my Bible reading, or other spiritual reading done (other than the devotional yesterday morning and a little bit during my lunch break). Disappointed because I collapsed on the couch before 8 p.m. and slept almost straight through to this morning.
During any other time, all of that disappointment might have been quite discouraging… to the point that I might have given up, given in to this constant temptation to just have a little caffeine… or get that salad at lunch covered with cheese and bacon bits and all things yummy (gotta love taking the health straight out of the salad).

(Side note here – while I agree that quitting caffeine cold turkey is not the most delicious choice I’ve made…ever…these terrible withdrawal headaches are actually having the opposite effect of what you might imagine. Instead of chomping at the bit to just say the heck with it, my resolve is strengthening. Research indicates that most withdrawal symptoms last anywhere from 2-10 days. I’m now on day 5. That’s halfway! I am mildly horrified that any substance can have such an incredible impact on my well being… and will definitely be thinking twice about my consumption after this three weeks of abstinence is over!)

But, I wasn’t discouraged. I wasn’t discouraged because just the evening before (Tuesday evening) I had read in Facing Your Giants about the Brook Besor. The Brook Besor gets a small little passage in the bible. One you might miss if not looking for it.

“9 So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor.” (I Samuel 30:9-10)

Did you catch that? 200 men stayed behind. 200 hundred soldiers said they could not go on. Go on where? Well, as it happens, they were about to go rescue their women and children that had been kidnapped by the Amalekites. Oh, is that all? They were merely going to save their families, makes sense to me that some of the men would be too tired… WHAT??? I don’t know about you, but if my spouse was snatched away by a band of thieves with intent to harm and malice on their minds, I can’t imagine that a little weariness would keep me down. Now, to be fair, I don’t have a spouse, so I can’t really claim that level of fondness for someone – but, I’ll tell you, I have friends and family members that I would go through Hell and high waters for…shoot, I probably have a few acquaintances I would fight to save if necessary.

Yet, that’s exactly what happened. These men had been on a warpath for weeks. They had just returned from the Philistine war to find their village ruined and their women and children gone. They were weak, exhausted, had nothing left but frustration… they were tired. Indeed, it would not have been at all surprising if David had just fallen on his own sword right there, but he didn’t. He sought God instead. “But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” (I Samuel 30:6) And rallied his men to go after the Amalekite raiders and rescue their families.

Despite the prayer, the rallying, and the understanding of exactly what was at stake, there were 200 men who simply could not muster the strength to cross the Brook Besor and continue the fight… and that was okay. David left them behind, took his 400 remaining men, chased down the enemy, rescued the women and children and returned victorious.

Would you be a little miffed if you, after all the fighting and exhaustion, still managed the strength to go on, fight another battle and return with all the spoils? Some of the 400 were. When they returned from battling the Amalekites and found the 200 still at the Brook Besor they started spewing hate. Why should they have to give what they recovered to those who did none of the work?

“23 But David said, “My brethren, you shall not do so with what the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us. 24 For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.” (I Samuel 30:23-24)

Not only did David excuse these men – he gave their staying behind purpose. Yes they stayed behind because they were too weary, but it had the added benefit of meaning there was someone to protect the supplies, protect camp – prevent another raid in their absence.

What’s the point?

The point is, sometimes it is okay to rest. Would I have rather done more reading and studying last night? Yes… just as I’m sure many of those men would have rather rescued their own wives and children, thankyouverymuch. But in day 4 of a migraine, I knew whatever I tried to accomplish would be no good – I would feel worse physically and then feel worse mentally because I would feel as though I failed to give it my full attention. Much like those men, in their weariness, likely would have been a burden to the 400 that did go on, and possibly would have changed the outcome of the fight.

So, instead, I turned off the lights, put a Christian broadcast program on (I discovered there is a nun on TBN with a remarkably soothing voice), listened and talked to God until I fell asleep.

This morning, the headache is not fully gone. I expect it to return later today. But – I feel refreshed in mind and spirit, and dear ones, that is where I surely would have failed. Had I allowed all those gloomy thoughts take over, and my mind and spirit to feel bruised, today would not be such a good day.

Jesus himself knows how important it is for us to rest. “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest” (Mark 6:31)

Yes, the battle will continue. Yes, we will fight another day. Yes, it is okay to rest.

Thanks for reading. Much love and many kisses.