SICK AND TIRED…our soul rest is often found within the crevice of rock while we watch God walk by.

 Sick and Tired

I’m sick and tired…

No, really, I’m sick and tired.

How many times throughout the course of just one day do you say that phrase either under your breath or out loud?

I’m sick and tired of my job…

              I’m sick and tired of my kids…

                             I’m sick and tired of my spouse…

                                           I’m sick and tired of this world.

I am just sick and tired!

So many times, in life we feel as though we simply cannot take another step.  We have come to the end of our road and the only thing that we have energy to do is to collapse whether that is on the couch or in our bed. We have spent every ounce of our energy and have even borrowed from our own reserves. If one more person asks us for our help or says that they need us, God help that person because this girl is about to blow and it “ain’t gonna be pretty.”

What do we do when we get like this?

If you are anything like me, and God help you if you are, you first throw out a warning those around you.  You warn them to stay away…stay far, far away! That way it is no longer your responsibility if they get too close and you blow.  It’s on them!

Next, you long for the nighttime darkness to show up so you can send everyone to bed, including yourself.  And…dang those long summer days!

Finally, you get to crawl into bed.  And girls, we all know that we pray to God this isn’t the night that our husband wants to be intimate.  Have you ever heard the phrase “Just fake it til you make it”?  Well, let’s just say this isn’t the time to implement this…let’s just be honest!

As you lay your head on your pillow, you say a quick prayer to God because let’s face it, you have no spiritual energy left either.  You ask God to make tomorrow better. Then you fall asleep.

When the sun rises the next morning, you escape from under your covers with a renewed energy to face the day…NOT!

 You are just as exhausted as when you laid your head down the night before.

              “God, what am I going to do. I can’t face this day…I really can’t. There is nothing left in me.”

We need rest…we need soul rest!

In Exodus 33, Moses was frustrated with God because God was frustrated with His people.  Once again the Israelites were grumbling and not following God so God said that He would lead the people into the Promised Land but that He would no longer walk along side them.  Moses became angry with God and felt abandoned.  In his feelings of abandonment, Moses pleaded with God asking who would lead with him.  He was sick and tired. He was sick and tired of leading God’s people through the wilderness and he felt as though God was not coming through on His promises.  Sound familiar? “God, You are not doing what you said you were going to do. You told me to take these people…your people…to the Promised Land.  I’m trying God, I’m really trying. But you have left me on my own with no one to help me.”  Moses was spent. He felt alone. He was sick and tired. There was nothing left within him to take one more step in this journey.

How many times in life do we feel like Moses? We feel as though God has abandoned us and is no longer walking with us in life. We cry out to God to not leave us. We cry out to God to just show up.

Then…

The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest- everything will be fine for you.” Exodus 33:14 NLT

You would think that these words from God would have given Moses the peace and courage that he needed to move on.  But Moses was filled with human response just like you and I.  God’s words were not enough for him.  He wanted more.  When God offered Moses “soul rest”, Moses didn’t believe that God was going to give it to him.  The story could have ended with that incredible verse of God’s promise for rest.  We could place that promise in a box and tie it up neatly with a bow.  But the pretty bowed box was not enough for Moses.  And to be honest, it often is not enough for me either.  I try to make it enough, but it just isn’t.

So, Moses looked at God and gave Him a big “WHATEVER God!” Whatever God…You said wonderful things before and I’m still in the place of exhaustion and angst.

God then reassures Moses of His love for him.  God tells Moses that He DOES look favorably on him and that He DOES know his name.

Then Moses says, “Then show me God… show me.  If you really love me; if you really know me, then show me.”

So, God did. He takes Moses by the hand and asks Moses to stand still on a rock.  As he stands still on that rock, He tells Moses to look for Him because He is going to walk past Moses.

“As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.” Exodus 33:22 NLT

God gave Moses exactly what he needed that day…He showed up!

When Moses was at the end of his road not having any energy to move the people one step closer to the Promised Land, God showed up.  He took Moses hand and placed him safely within the crevice of a rock and told Moses to watch as He walked by.

God – “But Moses, I cannot let you see my face…but I promise that I am here…I am here!”

So many times in life we cry out to God to show us His face.  We search diligently to get a glimpse of the face of God but we end the day with discouragement because God did not show up in the way we envisioned.  But what if God did show up but we missed it because we were searching for the wrong thing? What if He showed up with His hands or His feet but we settled in our own disappointment because it wasn’t His face?

For Moses to feel the rest that God longed to give him, God allowed Moses to get a glimpse of Him.

So God took Moses to a place of rest. He took him to the crevice of a rock so Moses would receive exactly what he needed that day to move forward in his journey.

Our soul rest is often found within the crevice of a rock while we watch Him walk by.

Is God wanting to hide you in the crevice of a rock today?

              Is He wanting to place you at the side of the road instead of walking down the middle?

                             Is He wanting you to remain there so you can see Him pass by?

To get just a glimpse of Him so you can find the rest that you need before you continue on your journey?

Maybe before we ask for rest, we ask if we can see Jesus…just one glimpse!

Where do you need to hide today so you can see Jesus?