Getting the Christmas blues....

"God has made us for Himself, and our hearts can never know rest and perfect satisfaction until they find it in Him." ~ Hanah Hurnard


I don't know about you, but the holidays came on way too fast this year. I've found myself extremely busy and with a long to-do list. It doesn't help that school doesn't let out until TODAY, leaving me with 3 days to get my house ready for a Christmas party! Luckily I have great sisters who are going to help!
So, these last few days, I've found myself riding the emotional rollercoaster. It all started when I settled in with a good book the other day. Why do all books seem to focus on finding prince charming? No matter how much I try to focus on the great story and the characters, I seem to get sucked into the love story. Next comes the inability to think about other things and, in the case, I couldn't wait to read the next book in the series. I lasted less than eight hour and dove back in to the next book. I know I just complained about not having enough time to get ready for holidays and I find myself stuck in a book... and the self loathing began. It is times like this when I find myself reevaluating the things that take up my time. How much of them would the Lord approve of? Am I glorifying him?  Isn't that my purpose in life? OH, the questions that fill my brain faster than I can answer.

This quote keeps coming back to mind - "God has made us for Himself, and our hearts can never know rest and perfect satisfaction until they find it in Him."
It definitely is ringing true lately. I don't seem to be satisfied with much of anything that doesn't include Him, and sometimes that hasn't worked lately. To top matters off, we lost two member of my church congregation this week in non related events. The loss is there, but I also know that both of them were ready to meet our God. They had this peace about them, this I'm going home feeling. Sometimes, I envy that feeling. here I am stuck on this Earth surrounding by so much that I can't change. For me, seeing hurt students day in and day out, not to mention the hurt I've observed in my own life. It is draining. Serving God can be draining. Dealing with all the people at Christmas can be draining.

So, what are we to do? Well, I'm drawn back to the quote, especially the part that says we can find rest in HIM! I know I've heard this echoed all throughout the Bible. He IS our strength, but sometimes I find myself rolling around in a lake of self pity and creating the excuses and complaints. Which brings me back to, what do we do? Well, we let Him bring us peace.

Peace... such a beautiful word, so calming and full of hope. All we have to do is reach out and it can be ours for the taking. So I go through my mental checklist.
1. Did you have a quiet time?
2. How often did you talk to God today? actually stop and talk with Him!
3. Did I acknowledge His power over my life? Surrender everything to Him again? Is there something I'm holding back.
At this point, if I'm still not at peace by spending time with my Lord, I spend some more time with Him! My time with Him can be anything from joyful-noise-really LOUD worship (obnoxious piano included) where I just let it all out through worship to something more somber like reading His word or devotional book or writing in my journal. It really doesn't matter what you do as long as you are opening yourself up to communicate with Him. Just remember communication is a two way street, make sure you stop once and awhile to let Him speak to you. Block the world out and just be silent..

So, in the midst of all the Christmas cheer (or blues!), let the Lord in to soothe or rejuvenate your spirit. Call out to Him and He will answer, just make sure that you are listening for His answer!