As most everyone did on Memorial Day weekend, my husband and I reflected on the great price that was paid by servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives so that we may have freedom. It is a sobering thought and one that I am reminded of quite often. You see, in my home, I have what I call an “Honor Wall.”
It is covered in photographs of all of our family members who have served their country in almost every branch of the military. It’s there as a reminder to be thankful and to pray for those who are still serving. It's also there to remind us that life is valuable and very short-lived.
In past years, our Memorial Day has been spent enjoying fun and fellowship with family and friends. But this year, my husband, who is a bi-vocational pastor, looked at me and said, “I think I am going to try and catch up on some rest.” He had been working for a few weeks on building our son a treehouse and needed a break.
While I understood what he meant, I began to think about that saying, “catch up on some rest.” Can you really regain time? Can you really rest enough to gain what you have lost? We know that time goes by so quickly. The sun sets and the sun rises, but only once in history has time ever stopped for anyone.
In the Book of Joshua, chapter 10, Joshua and the Israelites came to the rescue of one of their allies, the Gibeonites. They were to be attacked by opposing forces, but the Lord told Joshua “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”
On that very same day, Joshua stood before Isreal and the Lord and commanded the sun and the moon to stand still so that the nation could avenge itself on its enemies. We are told that "The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day." It was just enough time to do exactly what needed to be done.
Couldn't we all use a day like that! In the busyness of life, we sometimes find ourselves "running on empty." But much like Joshua, there is a solution to the problem, but it is nothing that we can do ourselves.
In this biblical account, we can see that the Lord already knew the need. He knew Joshua's battle, and he knew the strength that he needed to overcome it. And as always, God provided the time at the moment he needed it the most. Friend, life is not easy. It is a hard journey in every aspect. We labor and our bodies seek rest.
We worry and our mind is overwhelmed. Yet still, the enemy approaches, seeking to "kill, steal and destroy." But be of good courage, for the Lord heard Joshua, and today he still hears those who cry out to him. He sees our need, and He will provide. He is our strength when there is none in us to be found, and when it seems as though time has run out, He STILL moves heaven and earth to come to our rescue.
