Waking up empty

I woke up this morning feeling overwhelmed. It's a familiar feeling. I had another crazy week with work, friends, missional community, tennis, etc.

Don't get me wrong, it was an awesome week. The highlight was definitely on Thursday when Widad, one of the Iraqi women from the refugee apartments, came to my missional community group! Our group is going through the book of Acts. It was awesome to hear her story and what she knows about Jesus. We really had an awesome time together.

I spent time with friends, I made some new friends, and I even spent some time serving God this week. The problem is that I really didn't spend much time with God. The result is always the same- burnout. I woke up empty.

A friend invited me to his church this morning and I almost went but decided to stay home instead. Do I really need to go to two church services today? (I'm going to my church tonight.) I needed to spend some time with God.

I spent some time in the Bible and prayed and went for a walk and was starting in on my long list of chores when I got a text from one of the sweet girls in my missional community saying she was praying for me and to let her know if there was anything she could pray for.

I wrote her back and said that I was feeling very overwhelmed and to please pray that I would rely on God's strength and not my own.

She wrote me back and said "I hope you will feel loved by Him knowing that I felt burdened to pray for encouragement/strength/perseverance for you this morning. You have such a big heart for the lost. I'm praying that you'll be able to rest in Him and His strength."

So then I started bawling. (Burnout symptom #2)

But really it was because her message DID make me feel loved by Him, and that was what I needed more than anything.

A couple weeks ago, our pastor preached on the Sabbath and how God commands us to take a day off and rest in HIM. Our demonstration of Sabbath actually gives us the opportunity to show with our life how we view God. You're either demonstrating that you have to work to secure your future or you're showing that you trust God to secure your future.

I think you're also showing what you value. Whether it's work, friends, relationships or even serving, nothing can fill you up and replenish your soul like God can. You have to spend time with Him, or you will end up empty.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." I Peter 5:6-7