Stop and Smell the Roses...Even When They Aren't Blooming. How to Appreciate Good even When Life Is Crazy
Stop and smell the roses? Yeah, I realize it’s winter and there aren’t any roses blooming right now, but that’s the point: sometimes we need to pause regardless of how “rosy” life may be at the moment. Life. Gets. Busy. And it’s easy to rush from thing to thing, barely hanging on. But never pausing makes us tired and stressed and makes it easy to walk right past blessings all around us without even noticing.
When we stop and smell the roses in summertime, we are taking a moment to pause and to take it all in. And the world keeps spinning without us constantly running as fast as we can from one thing to the next. Pauses give perspective. Psalms 46:10 tells us to, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” This amazing Psalm reminds us to pause, to “be still” with God and to remember several amazing things. Here’s just a few of them: Psalms 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” I always enjoy building a good fort out of snow outside or blankets inside. They’re a lot of fun to play with but don’t stand up against much. The refuge God offers us can stand up to whatever we’re going through. Psalm 46:9 says, “He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.” The refuge God offers is always available and always strong enough. Let’s not rush right past it! And maybe the best word in this whole Psalm is the word PRESENT. God is present, available, a prayer away!
I think one the most difficult things in the world is the try to relax with a bunch of “what ifs” running through your brain! Maybe it’s when you’re trying to pause, trying to spend some time with God, or just grab a bit of rest; but then every possible scenario (and even some impossible ones) floods your brain. I can relate, but one amazing thing to remember is this: God has a plan for whatever will happen. He wants to be a present help, refuge, and strength no matter what “what ifs” may come. We can rest because He’s in control and we don’t have to be.
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