This year I tried to pace myself but failed. Every day, week, and month gets packed with activity. A good example of this is this week. We are moving (yay) but the process of moving (yuck) has me down. I know it will get done, but how this week unfolds will be interesting. When things are busy like this, I’d be tempted to skip my morning devotional time and get the day going. But, I know better than that.
I don’t spend time reading my Bible and praying as a religious requirement. If that were the case, it wouldn’t be useful to me at all. Religion isn’t what I’m after. I’m after a relationship that is life-changing. I spend time every morning in devotions because I know I need God to get through one day, let alone the days and weeks ahead. Keeping this in mind, I fixed my first cup of coffee (because who can only have one cup?), sat down and opened my Bible.
I tried to pace myself and then I ran into Hosea
I started reading in Hosea chapter 6 and came to verse 3. When I first sat down, I felt the pressure of the week ahead. Then, my eyes landed on, “Let us press on to know the Lord.” Forgetting the stress of the days ahead, I set myself to see what God was saying to me. I love reading the book of Hosea because the background of the book is so interesting. God sent Hosea to marry a prostitute (see Hos. 1:2) as an example of how God loved His people but they didn’t love him in return.
Later, after having children together, Hosea’s wife left him for another man. God spoke to Hosea after she had left him and said, “Go back and get her and love her” (see Hos. 3:1). I thought about Hosea and what God had commanded him to do. I was touched reading that Hosea obeyed God (see Hos. 3:2). How do you love someone who has betrayed you in such a way?
Another cup of coffee and a familiar nudge
I forgot about the pressure of moving that I was facing this week. I was too absorbed in Hosea’s story. When I got up for another cup of coffee, I felt a familiar nudge and heard, “What was it you were worried about, Lea?” Feeling a bit shallow I replied, “I’m sorry, Lord. I tried to pace myself and failed. There’s no need to worry about the move. Just like you walked with Hosea, you will walk with me.”
Coffee in hand, I hurried back to read more. I was pulled by the love of God for His people and the obedience of Hosea in the middle of his betrayal. What stress he must’ve felt, what pain, and yet he found it in himself to obey. If Hosea managed, so will you and so will I.
