Sometimes we have demands added to our lives through the circumstances that our loved ones find themselves in. We see they need our help and we gladly offer whatever help is needed. Our intentions are good. We offer our time, our energy and whatever resources are needed during this particular time. It is in the doing of all the extras, that if we are not careful, we can find ourselves caught in a snare. It is a snare of busyness, a frenzy of doing. Webster’s definition of a snare is “a position or situation from which it is difficult to escape.” A snare is also a device that has a loop called a noose, which gets smaller when the end of it is pulled to catch animals.
When an animal finds himself caught in a snare, he thrashes wildly trying to free himself from the trap. He exerts all of his energy until he finally collapses from exhaustion. When we find ourselves having more demands placed on us because of the needs of others, we need to be even more intentional about being still in the presence of the Lord. We run around like a chicken with our head cut off, trying to put out the fires that need to be taken care of. In the process we are extinguishing that still small voice that is telling us to slow down and be still. The joy and blessings that come with helping others often times will lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed, overextended and stretched to our limit. It is in our time of stillness with the Lord God, that He has a way of stretching our time and energy in our favor. He is the one who is able to do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine. In The Message translation of Psalm 25:15 it says, “If I keep my eyes on God, I won’t trip over my own feet.” Whether we find ourselves as a caretaker for a day, weeks, months or years we are trying our best to help those in need. We just need to keep our eyes on the Lord so we don’t trip over our own feet and break ourselves.
Lord, I pray for those who are walking alongside a loved one who is in need. I pray they look to you and find stillness in their busyness.
-- Michele
