It is good to wrestle. Yes it is. When the wrestle comes up for us, we can either make a side-step and avoid it, or we can engage, go deep and walk through it. Who am I kidding? Walking is far too positive of a word! More like tremor/slather/stumble/army crawl/eek through it. But, the deception in the side-step is the belief that we can escape it. To side-step it is a delay and not an escape.
Some straight forward words: I hope that there are people who read these words that aren't like me. I hope that friends or acquaintances I have that do not share my faith in God are reading and processing with me. And so, on the hope that that is you... I must say that being 'saved' by Him has not been a one time occurrence in my life. I have desperately needed to be rescued from myself time after time. But, I have seen Him, felt Him break into my story and rescue me....save me. I have lived it. He rescues me. And once again, I am taken away at how He has rescued me. I have needed Him to pull me out of the crazy in my head and HE HAS. Christians can be crazy in da head. Christians need to be re-rescued often.
Onward.
So, there is no one more relieved to be checking in from the upswing out of the pit of a wrestling phase than this girl right here. Re-la-la-la-la-lieved.
When you come out of something intense, you is tired. Real tired. And what I wanted to dive into a bit was the space of time right after the wrestle.
And when you're tired, prayers are simple:
'What now God?'
And then so clearly and so consistently He has invited me:
'Come recover in Me.'
It made me pause...the word recover. Frankly, my natural instinct is to brush myself off, get up, and walk (quickly) away from the scene. As if it never happened. I mean, I want to get the good out of it and not forget it. But, I'd sure like to look as if it never happened. No sweaty brow, no shaking muscles, no weariness.
But the invitation to recover is not very unclear, now is it?
So as I've moved through recovery, and still am doing so, I've asked Him what that looks like. How do we recover with Him? Recovery can be necessary after the smallest wrestle. After a tough day. After a difficult run-in. Recovery need not be saved only for the 'big stuff.' What if He's inviting you to do the same? Come recover with me....
There are a few things that I know about recovery and much of it mirrors recovery in a physical sense.
1. SLEEP. Not spiritual slumber....dude, go get a good night of sleep. Let that rise to top priority. Has one too many Netflix shows caused you to stay up too late to get a full night of sleep? Catching up on the list of to-dos that didn't get done while you were a bit down? For a bit, sleep needs to be seen as one of the most productive things you can do. I'm not talking about sleeping the days away. I'm talking about doing the things in your power to get consistent full nights of sleep. Allow your body to restore and recalibrate....which impacts everything else.
Hebrews 4:9-11 The Message Translation
"The promise of 'arrival' and 'rest' is still there for God’s people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest..."
2. QUIET. Just as if you were side lined from an injury and were forced to let your body recover.... let some things stop that keep the brain busy. Create some quiet. He most definitely is right there with you in the wake of the wrestle. And He wants to process with you...not you on your own trying to figure it all out. Will He speak? Oh yes, my friend. He wants to put the puzzle pieces together with you...to help you make the connections....to pull you up so you can see the wrestle from higher up with perspective. Make some consistent spaces to be quiet with Him and see what happens.
3. EAT. What we take in, impacts recovery. So - let truth and wisdom in. And that means, seek it out. Seek out the people who have it. Read Truth. Plant yourself in the Psalms if you need a starting point. This is personal to me...but I find it important to guard the atmosphere around me when I'm recovering. It's not a time to watch/read/listen to dysfunctional story lines. Even if it's artistic and well-written or deliciously composed. Even if the stable you can handle it, the recovering you shouldn't need to handle it. Take in things that stir up beauty, inspiration, love and truth in you.
Recovery: sleeping, quiet and eating. It can be challenging in a month like December, but it is possible.
He's in the recovery just as much as He's in the wrestle. Take it to the bank.
Oh friend! What a journey we get to walk! It takes my breath away and blasts air under my wings all at the same time.
See that dark side strand/chunk of hair on my right cheek? The one bending by my nose and then sticking straight out? Yes, that's because it's sticking straight out due to dire need of a good wash. Tomorrow morning, it's on. Recovery = dirty hair = but recovery hair has had its last day. There's only so far dry shampoo can take ya, am I right?
Mucho love,
Honest Abi
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