What robs your peace?

 

You may remember my blog from last week, discussing fellowshipping with other women, and how I find the craft time boring. After I had posted that blog I was reflecting on the morning and realised that I had become quite agitated at the time.

The following day, I had a frustrating day. I had my new curtains steamed at home as they were badly creased even after hanging for three weeks. When the shop assistant had left, I realised that they were not much better and I was disappointed, especially as they were a very expensive fabric.

I then went shopping with hubby at The Warehouse. I was looking for a new photo album. Staff sent me from one side of the store to another and I still could not find what I was looking for. I finally went to the Customer Service desk and was served by a very young girl, who spoke quite rudely, making it plain that I was of no account and she couldn’t care less about helping me. She sent me back across this large store to an aisle which turned out to be electrical goods. By this time I had enough. I went through checkout with the items I had managed to find and the checkout operator was extremely nice and very helpful.  It turns out the photo albums were in the aisle right next to the first person I had asked who had sent me across to the other side of the store. The checkout operator was even able to tell me what photo albums they had left in stock, none of which were what I wanted. On the way out I mentioned very nicely to the Customer Service person that she had sent me to the wrong aisle. She again replied in a rude manner. Now I was going to have to go to another store further into the central business district. I never got there as I ran out of time. All this to say, I became more and more agitated.

Later that day when I returned home, I spent some time with God to find out why I had felt so agitated during these two occasions, as this was not normal for me. He revealed to me that I had too many tasks in my diary each day, so on these two days I was agitated at what seemed to be a waste of time when I could have been doing something else, and I was agitated because my day did not go according to plan. I have known for some time that I was trying to do too much, but could never figure out what I could leave. There seemed to be a need to do it all, unless I cancelled my fun / enjoyment time! However God is good. After spending that time with him, I remembered that a friend volunteered to lead my Bible Study group for a year to give me a break, so I won’t have to prepare for this. Also, the church is looking for a paid Children’s Leader and when they are successful I will no longer be spending around three hours a week preparing for Kid’s Church but can step down for a rest. Following God’s word to me, I found someone to come and do housework for me once a fortnight. Yes this is an added expense but my husband and I decided it was worth having a little less ‘pocket money’ for the benefits it would give us. Sometimes God uses frustrating circumstances to lead us to him, if we are willing. I feel so much more joy and peace knowing that my list of tasks is slowly reducing. I will be looking at other ways of keeping them in check. Time with God is more important than the tasks in my diary.

I pray that this week, you find times of rest and refreshment and that the God’s peace will invade your life.