Finding Margin in God's Presence

Finding Margin in God's Presence I passed a wall of magazines at an airport—one headline stopping me in my tracks. It said, “Why We Are More Exhausted Than Ever.” That day I was so fatigued I could feel it in my soul. Like many, I had embraced a lifestyle of long hours, chronic stress, constant travel, endless screen time, and a pace with minimal margin. In trying to serve others, as well as feed poor and suffering people around the world, I had slowly neglected my own needs and the remedies God had provided to keep me whole. That strategy works—until it doesn’t. This life is an incredible adventure, but our minds, bodies, and souls require attention—not neglect. The world offers promises of happiness and contentment that inevitably fall short and lead to disillusionment and disappointment. God, on the other hand, offers care for our deepest needs and everyday challenges. "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." Jeremiah 31:25 NIV Many of the professions with the highest rates of burnout are service-oriented: doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers, ministers, social workers, military personnel, and parents of young children. While the priorities and practices propagated by this world ultimately lead to weariness, the ways of God lead to lasting renewal. After reading that magazine article and studying Scripture, I was reminded of a simple truth: The most significant step we can take to remain refreshed is to spend time in God’s presence. That unlocks the door to wisdom, perspective, respite, refreshment, and restores our mind, body and soul. In other words, our hope soars when we spend time in the presence of God. Prayer, worship, Scripture reading, church participation, and service to others invites God’s presence and provides the antidote to a weary world. The world offers distractions and temporary relief that ultimately leave us empty. Conversely, God offers renewal that provides focus, contentment, energy, and vision. Receive those gifts, then use them to serve others and introduce them to Jesus. Today's devotional was written by Hal Donaldson of Convoy of Hope.