It’s been a really long day. You’ve braved the cold, harsh weather for hours on end. Traffic has been horrible. You’re running low on fuel, but you don’t want to take the time or get out in the nasty weather to pump gas. You really need to stop by the grocery store because your cupboards are bare, but tonight fast food may just have to do because who feels like going into that jungle. There are still so many things to do when you get home. Tasks to complete, housework that needs attention, phone calls to make, texts to return, bills to be paid, along with your never ending to-do list.

You begin to get a bit overwhelmed before you even walk through the door. So many things to do and not enough time to do them. You want to be focused, but then you hear it. It’s calling your name. First, it’s a faint whisper, but then it gets louder and louder. You try to act as if you don’t hear anything, but all of the self-control in the world just isn’t working tonight. You just can’t ignore it any longer, and you give in.

Have I gotten your imagination running wild? That faint whisper turned into an outside screaming voice is none other than your favorite chair in front of that nice, cozy, and inviting fireplace. You’ve went through this numerous times at the end of a long day before. You want to be productive, but then taking the time to relax and unwind is just what you are craving. It’s just what you need after a day of giving it all that you’ve got. A good book along with a nice cup of hot cocoa are speaking your love language. You want to accomplish something, but tonight all that needs to get accomplished is you.

Let’s be truthful and honest about this one. The struggle is very real. We all battle with this everyday when we get home. The battle of what seems to be urgent and pressing versus what is important and valuable to us. So many times we feel unnecessary guilt over something that should produce no guilt at all. Taking care of you isn’t to be apologized for. It should and must be embraced with the most absolute care and concern. You matter!

All of this sounds good, but what if I told you there was something greater to be learned here? What if I told you there is a bounty of truth in this situation that you so often overlook? What if I told you that there is great wisdom to be gained here. Then you might tell me that I just don’t know what I’m talking about. This nugget of gold is right before you, but you keep missing it every time. So with that in mind, let’s dig a little bit deeper.

You just happen to think that you are sitting down and relaxing for you, but that’s not it at all. What if this longing and great desire to just sit and not do much of anything is really a cry from your spirit wanting time to be refreshed and renewed. You think that it’s you making this decision, but it’s really God drawing you away to spend time with Him. Time with just you and Him. He wants to know how your day went and all of the things that are bothering you. After you’ve had some time to get through the preliminaries, then He wants you to be still and quiet and just listen. He wants to share His heart with you and not just His hand. This is the only way that He knew would get your attention. Being tired seemed to be a product of the day, but God used it to create time and space in your schedule to be with you. He was talking to you during the day, but you were just too busy to hear, let alone listen. So now He has a captive audience in what you thought was just you all of the time.

This coming away from the world time. This “It’s been a long day and I don’t have any energy left” time. This “I just can’t take it another minute” time. All of these are entry points for God to interrupt your regularly scheduled broadcast for an important message. His message to let you know just how much He loves you. How much He wants to spend time with His beloved son or daughter. Time with only the two of you so that He can pour His truth into you. He can hardly wait to share His heart with you to let you know just what a beautiful creation He thinks that you are. He just wants you to know that you are cherished and adored.

The next time you begin to feel a little overwhelmed from the day, don’t fight it. Just sit down and enjoy some much needed time with Abba Father. You thought it was just one of “those” days, but it was God’s plan all along. Relax and just breathe. Breathe in the overwhelming love of your Heavenly Father as He nourishes you in all that you lack and that was depleted. Just rest, beautiful one. Your Father is waiting for you.