Where do you go?

When life isn’t working for you, where do you go?

A friend comes to you with a BIG problem. Where do you turn?

Even daily…
I’m feeling blue, so I pick up a magazine to distract myself with throw pillows, the current fashions or skin care tips.

When my marriage hits a rocky spot, I call a friend to talk things out.

When I don’t know what to do about a problem with my kids, I go to my favorite web site or post a comment on Facebook to see what suggestions I get.

When I’m frustrated, I have a cup of tea.

When I’m sad or lonely, I craft.

Then what am I tempted to do when I’m in a spiritual slump? Or, better yet, when a crisis hits? I do what I always do. I turn to magazines, a friend, a web site, Facebook, food or crafting. I may even open my Bible and find an encouraging verse to bolster my spirits.

And I may feel better for a while…especially if my temporary solution involves chocolate.

But before long, I find that I’m right back where I started. I'm still frustrated, blue, lonely or sad.

When I was dealing with anxiety at the end of my last pregnancy and postpartum, I tried everything to help alleviate my symptoms. I found some temporary relief from reading good books, talking to friends, getting advice from doctors, deep breathing and eating well. But it didn’t last. Not really.

Now I’ve learned. I have to go to the cross. I have to run to God. I have to sit at the feet of Jesus.

Matthew 11:18 “Come to ME, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Get that. Where are we supposed to go??

Jesus doesn’t tell us to go to church. He doesn’t even tell us to go to the Bible.

Wow.

He asks us to come to Him. We can find rest in Jesus. We can rest in Him.

But that's so simple!

I’m a doer. I’m a striver. I’m a rule follower. I’m even borderline legalistic. I’d have made a great Pharisee! So I like formulas and check-lists. I really like checking little boxes with a blue or black ball point pen. I’d kinda like it if God gave us a to-do list!

But God isn’t into that. Jesus told us to come to HIM. Stop doing “STUFF…” and just COME. And rest.

So simple. Just go. Maybe we'll run into each other on the way there.