One Simple Step to a Lasting Spring Break
One Simple Step to a Lasting Spring Break
Spring break…ahhh!! Just the words elicit visions of sunshine, fresh air, and relaxation! Thoughts of Florida sandy beaches, walks along the sandy shore and time away from obligations that feel overwhelming. Oh, to enjoy time away with nothing to do but relax, refresh and rest!
So often I think of breaks as going away. Packing a bag (or, for me bags, LOL I need choices in my shoes and clothes :), making flight arrangements, hiring a pet sitter, and spending money on a beautiful hotel overlooking the salty, soothing ocean. When I long for a break and I start thinking that to find some relief I must go away and put out a decent amount of cash to do so, I start feeling discouraged and even more stressed out.
After all, I am not a student anymore with set time off during the spring to get away or take a break. Right? And I am guessing many of you guys reading this work rather than attend school with a scheduled break from deadlines and to-do lists.
As spring break time approaches and TV commercials start showing beautiful balmy beaches as I sit at home striving and working hard, I am reminded that finding rest does not require going away and paying out thousands of dollars. Rest and relief are easily received from God-anytime, anywhere for free!
However, can you say that when you spend time with God that you feel rested and relieved? Perhaps not.
As a society that works hard for many of the things we want and need, often that same mentality gets transferred to our relationship with God. In order to get from Him, hard work is required. I have found myself believing that to really experience God’s peace and unconditional love, I have to say certain prayers, pray a certain length of time, talk to Him a certain way, etc. etc. I unconsciously created “rules” to receive only to feel more stressed out and guilty!
So how do you find and experience this deeply soothing rest from God? What is the one step to the peace that surpasses all understanding mentioned in Philippians 4:7? Or maybe the better question to be answered, “How to be anxious for nothing?” from the previous verse in Philippians?
Be a Mary not a Martha. That’s how!
When I finally realized that Mary had the right idea by sitting at Jesus’ feet and resting her head by His feet rather than Martha scurrying around doing this and that to serve Jesus, I suddenly experienced a breakthrough of peace and rest like I never had before. Jesus tells Martha and He tells us, “”Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42, NIV)
Did you hear that? The peace, the rest, the relief we long for lies at the feet of Jesus and it cannot be taken away from us! Nothing to do, nothing to say, nothing to prepare. Only to sit and receive. And that’s free!
The next time you long for a break don’t schedule an expensive trip (unless you want to of course :), close your eyes, take some deep breaths, and imagine sitting at Jesus’ feet. Or visualize laying your head on Jesus’ lap as He stokes your hair soothing you with His peace and loving touch. Really see Him looking in your eyes, notice what He is wearing, look around to see where you are and be with Jesus.
It’s that simple.
When it comes to spring break, we long for relief and rest. A break away from to-do lists and the constant going and doing. Refreshment and relief can be easily found by stopping and resting with God. No costly price tag, no packing and preparing, no going far away.
The next time you feel weary and need a break, take one with God. Afterall, the best spring break lies at the feet of Jesus and can never be taken away from you.
