You’ll notice children who are grouchy and disagreeable are either tired or hungry or both. But, unless they are sick, when their food and rest needs are met, they calm down and become more pleasant.

I have always found it peculiar how kids fight sleep and resist food even though they are tired and hungry. It seems logical that if you’re tired and hungry the only thing you’d want is to sleep and eat. But they resist what they need to pursue what they think they want. They want to play, and they’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they don’t miss out.

We grown-ups do the same. We lose sleep and skip meals in our attempts to push ahead. We do whatever it takes to make sure we’re not missing out on what life has to offer us. But we wear ourselves out in our pursuit of success and happiness.

Obviously, being tired or hungry is the direct result of lack of sleep or lack of nourishment. That is true in the natural, and it is true spiritually as well. When we lack spiritual rest and nourishment we become spiritually tired and hungry.

It’s interesting to see how we Christians tend to do the same with regards to spiritual pursuit as we do in our earthly pursuit. We do what ever it takes to make sure we don’t miss out on what we view as spiritual success and happiness. We fight restful moments with God and ignore the spiritual meals He offers while throwing ourselves into our "calling" or trying to handle our struggles without relying on Him. We wear ourselves out spiritually.

I’ve noticed I’ve been a bit grouchy and disagreeable the past few days, and my dislike towards my attitude prompted me to consider its source. Though there is evidence for physical cause, I've also recognized a connection to my spiritual state as well. I'm spiritually tired and hungry. I've resisted some rest time with God recently, and I've skipped some meals He's offered lately. In my efforts to make priority adjustments the following scriptures have come to mind.

The Psalmist said, "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" (Psalm 42:1-2, ESV).

Psalm 127:2 says, "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep" (ESV).

Mark 6:31 says, "And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat" (ESV).

Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30, ESV).

Jesus also said, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:4-5, ESV).

I want to be fruitful and multiply, but I cannot offer life and kill myself at the same time. I cannot be weary and do well. It's necessary to replenish myself. In the future, I think it's right to rest and eat before I get tired and hungry.

#rest #stress #spiritualfood