Space Between

“The energy you are looking for is found in the margins, in the space between.”
Loren Thornburg  

Having grown up in Southern California I am slowly learning how to drive in the snow.  One of the things I am learning is that you need a greater space between.  There is more space required between you and the car in front of you and before your stopping point.  More space is also needed before you make a turn, knowing that you now need more space to turn in front of the oncoming cars.  I am finding life is like that.  When things get a bit stormy and harder than before I need more space between.  This margin is referred to as the space between ourselves and our limits.  Like driving in the snow, my limits change during different seasons of life and different circumstances.  I have to give myself more space between the workings of my week otherwise I won’t be able to last through the season.    Space gives us energy to keep going.   We wouldn’t expect a car to keep running without stopping to put gas in it, yet we are surprised when our lives don’t function well without margin.  It’s in the space between that we can rest, regroup, and refresh for the next thing.  Do you have enough margin and space between?  

If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?
Psalm 127:1-2 Message

We see it over and over in scripture.  God designed life to have space, margin and rest.  He worked created the world and rested, He commands us to rest, He invites us to rest, and He shows us rest in the life of Jesus.  God is a god that “enjoys giving rest to those he loves.”  He loves to give you rest.  It’s not that most of us would disagree, yet somehow it still doesn’t happen in our lives.  We love the idea of it but often miss the reality of margin and rest.  There are so many good things calling for attention, there are so many lies telling us our significance is in our being busy, and there are so many fears on what might come up in the silence of the rest.  Thus, we have to be intentional about margin and fight for it.  For as the Psalms says if our schedule is not being led by the Lord then we are working in vain.  Let Him determine your day.  Hear His invitation to rest...and enjoy as He does.