Dancing in the Rain

Looking back at the year we had, how well would you say you handled the change and the uncertainty that struck our nation? I can say with confidence that I did not take it well. I was angry, sad, and frustrated with how my plans disappeared, and life changed within just a few weeks.

 Over a year later, how would you say you feel now? I still can’t say I‘m elated that my mission trip to Nicaragua was canceled or ecstatic that I was sent home from college; however, I can say that amid the difficulty, the Lord continued to fill me with joy.

Walking through the chaos that broke out, I was confused (as most were), and I didn’t know what was to come. Now that I look back, I have a new perspective. At first, I was bitter, now I am thankful. I was hurt, now I am healed. I was sad and lonely, now I am joyous and filled with peace. I had to learn that it isn’t about changing the circumstances (especially those out of our control); it is simply about learning to dance in the rain. 

It is inevitable that circumstances will arise in our lifetimes that we do not like and cannot change. We can either choose to be upset about it, or we can learn to find beauty in it. It may rain outside when we were planning on sunshine, but in the end, the attitudes we have about it are up to us. We could stay inside all day, staring out the window, wishing we could be outside, or we could get up, get out, and go dance in the rain. 

Psalm 16:11 says, “You (God) make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

In His presence, there is fullness of joy. He renews us and fills us with peace as we battle through the difficulties life throws at us. He is the beauty throughout our hard days. He is the reason we dance and sing.

Our joy should not be dependent on the condition of the world or the events happening around us. Our joy comes from the Lord and can be found when we trust in Him and live by His word. He sees what we cannot, and He knows what is to come before we ever walk through it. 

No matter the sunshine or the rain, I want to encourage you to find joy throughout the day. Some days are especially hard, and everything seems to go wrong. Even then, it is important to find the beauty and the light in each day. We have to hold onto the Lord’s word and His goodness through the joy and the pain. As Nahum 1:7 says, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows who takes refuge in Him.”

Burnout

   Burnout is described as fatigue, frustration, or loss of interest in certain activities and sometimes life in general. It can cause extreme stress, depression, and social withdrawal. Burnout is not exclusive to our jobs. Maybe it's household responsibilities, or classwork, we can even feel burnout in social obligations. Not to mention spiritual burnout can happen and it’s part of our walk with Christ.

   The most common complaint among my peers is the frustrations we have with work whether it be a job or spiritual work. It’s part of being human; generosity and hard work is part of what gives us purpose. As followers of God we are often called to sacrifice sometimes more than we have. However God doesn't call us to work so hard that we lose desire to do anything. Nowhere does the bible equate our worth or identity to how much we work. “And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while. For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” Mark 6:31. To me it’s obvious that we’re called to rest and to lean on the Lord for support, that’s a big part of our relationship with God. We need to allow God the chance to fill us with love and give us the rest we need in order to pour into others. If we deny that rest and love he wants to give us, we lose sleep, often taking on more things than we can handle by neglecting our own needs we’re failing to see the correct plan God has set out for us.”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28-30.

   Relying on God can look different for everyone. For some it might mean being more intentional with self care. Exercise, sleeping regularly, making time for a book, spending time with friends, or giving yourself the chance to be alone. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy spirit within you, you are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” Corinthians 6:19-20. It’s important to enjoy the things that God gave us with the purpose of enriching and teaching us. Others might need to get rid of things that have been deemed more important than God. For some it’s simply learning to say no in order to avoid any kind of burnout. When we rely on God more, we’re trusting him to make a straight path for us without our opinion on what we think is best. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

   We heal from burnout by accepting God’s rest, and we can avoid burnout by keeping in the know with God. That means talking to him about our schedules and asking him to lead . We can do what he calls us to do but only within his boundaries. We should accept his love for it’s because of his love that he gave his only son, Jesus Christ. We should accept help from others because God calls us to bear one another's burdens in the name of community. We should accept his rest because it’s such a wonderful gift given to us by a gracious and caring savior.