God's Favor

August 3, 2005

At last… after a long, hot and unusually challenging week at work, it was my day off.  Even the Lord rested on the seventh day - and now it was my turn. 

All too often, my “day off” is so filled with errands to run and chores to take care of that I never get around to just “resting”, but not today!  Today would be different.  Today I had gotten up early in the morning to begin my labors while it was still cool outside, (however cool it gets in August), and today I had hurried… rushing from chore to chore, hoping to have some time left over with nothing to do but rest my weary bones.   

And it worked!  Just six stops (and several hours) later, I dragged my hot and bedraggled self back into the air-conditioned comfort of the RV I call home.  I put away a trunk full of groceries, fixed and ate my first meal of the day, and then… with a long deep sigh of relief, plopped myself down on the couch to rest.   

But as I stretched out, willing myself to relax, I realized that for some strange reason I just didn’t feel right.  The peace and contentment I’ve come to accept as normal, was gone and instead I felt anxious and almost irritated. What could be the problem – and what should I do about it?

Well, I only know of one sure-fire way to improve my state-of-mind… so I got up off the couch, picked up my Bible and dropped to my knees in prayer.  I didn’t need to find the right words to tell the Lord what was wrong, because He already knew.   What I did need to do was to ask Him for His help as I read His Word; help to see through the numerous “translations” and help to “know what He would have me know”.  Our most generous and loving Lord has given us THREE amazing tools with which to fight off the confusion of every day life:  One; our savior Jesus Christ, two; the power of the Holy Ghost and three; the Holy Bible and I was hoping to find the antidote for my restlessness in His word. 

I’m one of those Bible readers who prefer to start at the beginning, read all the way through to the end – and then start over again.  So I began where I left off, in Psalms, which I enjoyed immensely.  But when I put the Book down, I still found myself feeling restless and uneasy.  That’s not to say it wasn’t time well spent… because I ALWAYS feel better after reading the Word of my Lord and Master, but for some reason the anxiousness was still there, kind of like when you’re hungry but you can’t think of anything that sounds good to eat.

So I put my beautiful white leather-bound Bible back where it belongs and once again stretched out on the couch to rest.  I turned on the television and picked up the mystery novel I had been reading… eager to enjoy what was left of my day.  Unfortunately, my 54 year old eyes don’t see quite as clearly as they did when I was younger so with a gentle forward nod of my head, the reading glasses that had been resting on top of my head dropped down to the bridge of my nose.  It’s a neat trick, one that always puts a smile on my face as I think how easy I have it… and how difficult it must have been for my ancestors who had no such conveniences to sharpen their vision.    

And that’s when it happened.  That’s when my smile turned into a laugh… and the laughter filled my heart and soul.  I’m sure that if there were a hidden camera in my RV, people would think I was crazy… just sitting there laughing at the ease of my life… laughing at the wonder of the times we live in… and laughing for the sheer joy of the moment.  And there it was; the peace and contentment I had so sorely missed was once again washing over me. 

How could I have let myself get so caught up in the whirlwind of life that I had forgotten how to enjoy the simple wonder of the moment?  Here I was… reclining on a soft comfortable couch in a room cooled to perfection by air conditioning.  Cold drinks and more food than I could possibly eat were just across the room, safely stored in the refrigerator and cupboards.  And because the print was too small for my eyes, I had only to don my reading glasses and everything became clear.   (Too bad LIFE’S not that easy…) And there, just an arms length away was the television remote control, which is my never-ending access to world news, weather and yes, even idle entertainment.  My sometimes aching back was comfortably supported by a nice big pillow, and I even had a bottle of cool spring water sitting next to the remote control. 

And oh - did I mention the cell phone with unlimited nationwide minutes sitting next to the remote control and how it keeps me in touch with my parents, children, grandchildren and friends whenever the need (or desire) arises?  And how about the laptop computer with internet access sitting just a few feet away or the car that waits for me outside in my driveway, just in case I want to go somewhere. 

And so I laughed... as sheer gratitude for a life of such ease filled my heart to overflowing.   I am SO very blessed.  Imagine how hot and thirsty Jesus must have been as He walked through the desert.  Imagine how His feet must have ached and how frustrated He must have felt when people refused to believe His message.  I can’t even imagine how I'd feel if people followed me everywhere I went… hanging on my every word and allowing me no privacy whatsoever. And imagine how Jesus’ heart must have ached to know that in the end, He would be betrayed and hated by the very people He had come to help. 

Yet here I sit… comfortable, well-fed and healthy.  I wouldn’t blame the Lord if He thought of us as spoiled children who don’t appreciate what we ALREADY have – but instead, cry because we want more.  I, for one, am ashamed of myself for letting the stress and strain of everyday living cloud my vision, even temporarily.  Every single moment I live should bring a “WOW” to my heart because I have been blessed with a such comfort and ease.   “Wow”… another breath of fresh air.  “Wow”… another meal when I’m hungry.  “Wow”… another person I love who loves me.  “Wow”, “Wow”, “Wow”!

And suddenly, the restlessness and anxiety that had beset me for the past 24 hours disappeared and I was once again free; free to enjoy the simple things, like “having no headache” or “my feet not hurting”.  I don't need to feel guilty for lying on the couch and enjoying my afternoon off… or feel anxious about problems at work that are beyond my control.  What really matters is that a sinner like me has somehow found God’s favor… and with it, so many blessings that I’ll be smiling from now until the day my Lord and Master calls me home.

And now, “Wow”…it’s time to read that mystery novel.

From Abigayle

with Love

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