Many people would love the life I lead…till they realise it is from necessity. I spend much of each day on the sofa with my feet up. This is because I have ataxia (SCA6) and one of the symptoms is fatigue. I do some work, then I need to rest. Added in is recovery from the broken ankle, so now I have to counteract the swelling which becomes worse when I am on my feet too long, and the beautiful delicate purple it turns. So instead of just sitting in my favourite comfy chair, I need my foot up. On the sofa is the best I have found. I can get quite comfortable here!
I might add in my younger days, pre-ataxia, I could organise 4 kids, do all the housework, do the gardening, walk the dogs, you name whatever needed to be done, and not even stop for morning tea. If I had any it was on the run, sipped as I was doing the vacuuming, or doing the dishes, or whatever. Ataxia has changed all that. I am not being lazy…I physically can no longer do it. Whether I want to or not.
I have had to concentrate on the work I know I can do, and pace myself, and swallow my pride and ask for help for the things that are now too difficult for me. I long for that independence I once had. Is this how we approach our Christian walk? We want our independence?
Doesn’t quite work that way does it. Unless salvation is by works, which thank the Lord it isn’t! Salvation is by grace! Ephesians 8: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
We can’t just say I’ll do my bit, and God will do the rest. He did it all! HE saved us. We didn’t save ourselves. Our righteousness is worthless. His is perfect and priceless. We can’t assume because we go to church…or we tithe and/or give offerings….or we “keep” the ten commandments, even if we say we’re doing it because we love the Lord, that it is enough. Only Jesus is enough. We need to be born again (from above). Born of the Spirit, and have been made a new creation, with a new heart. This is all God’s work, not ours. We cannot do this ourselves.
This is really an all and nothing situation. He does it all. We can do nothing. He IS all. We are nothing. Yet He loved us so much that He became nothing so we could have everything. He took what we deserved so we can have what He deserves.
So next time you want to be independent, remember that is fine in the physical and emotional sense. But spiritually? We HAVE to be dependent on Him. We NEED Him. We NEED to rest in Him. And what a rest that is!
I know. I’ve become an expert on rest, and His is beyond your wildest dreams…..
Light of Christ 