From the Desk of Pastor Brandon
Good morning, Reader,
Anyone else feeling overwhelmed? In our house, we have three boys, and they are all in sports, which started about three weeks ago. So, every week we have 4 games and 3 practices, usually within a 3-day period (Thurs-Sat). On top of that, I am an assistant coach on two of them, and am stepping in with my youngest's soccer team since the coach is stepping away.
That's just the boys' sports schedule, not to mention pastoring a revitalizing church, being a professor for a college course, my wife's schedule as a dermatology PA, the boys' school programs and concerts, and making sure our pets all get fed in the middle of the chaos.
I am sharing all of this with you this morning, Reader, because my guess you can relate. Life is so busy these days, and everything is moving at breakneck speed. This is one of the reasons we are eating out so much: we are so tired, we feel like we can't keep up, we retreat into our phones every chance we get, and we look forward to going to bed at the end of the day.
We live overwhelmed lives.
Last night I sat on my floor after the boys went to bed, crossed my legs, put on some soothing piano music, grabbed a cup of tea, and simply sat for almost half an hour. I needed to calm the world around me and calm my mind. I needed to create a moment of focus.
With Easter right around the corner, I wonder if that is part of what Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane. Did He walk up to the Garden with His disciples and then pull away for a moment of solitude because He was overwhelmed by the moment He was in? Did He need to quiet the world to focus His mind and heart so that He would be able to walk through what He was about the face?
Jesus pulled away at other strategic times to talk to God and be alone with Him, and I can't help it was partially because Jesus was feeling overwhelmed and needed to center Himself.
How much more do we need to do those things in our own lives? I know the excuse is that we don't have time for things like that, but what if we made time? Even just 10 minutes to breathe deep, quiet our minds, and refocus ourselves.
I want to encourage you today. If you feel overwhelmed, like life is pressing in around you, and that you can't get ahold of things, then pause for a few minutes, breathe deep, and ask the Prince of Peace to grant you peace and focus in the midst of the chaos.
You may be surprised at how big of a difference He can make in your life when you do that.
Have a wonderful weekend!!!
If you are looking for a simple, easy guide through Jesus' final week before going to the cross, I put together this devotional journal last year for the Easter season. You can get it on Amazon for $5.97. Get it today and you will have it before the start of the Easter week.
