Have you heard the story of the princess and the pea? She couldn’t sleep because under all the mattresses and blankets sat a tiny pea. It was enough of an irritant that she was sleepless when no one else would have even known it was buried down below.
That is totally me! if the sheets have a single wrinkle I am doomed. I am constantly tugging and pulling on the sheets to make everything smooth and clean. I can’t help it. It is so bad some nights that I can’t sleep more because of the thoughts of the irritation than the sheets themselves. Its like it becomes so loud that I can’t hear anything else. And sleep? After that? Forget it!
Small things can be huge irritations. In my case I recently was reminded of some hurtful words someone I cared about said about me. They weren’t true and have no bearing on my life to this day. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t hurt. Not only hurt, but they took root and plagued my mind for a time. I felt those old hurt and angry feelings again. I even let thoughts of lashing back at the person.
I know I am not perfect and never have been. I know that I will fail and I will fall and I am going to let people down. But who are they to speak badly of me? How dare they? I should call others and set this straight!
Even though its been years ago! Satan knows our triggers and he know just what to do to make us lose focus. If I let myself get caught up worrying about the “peas” under the mattress I will never rest!
Matthew 11:23-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
No matter how many times I fix the sheets, as soon as I lay back down they are pulled away from the perfection I am seeking. No matter how many mattresses they put over the pea, the princess still could not get comfortable. I will never be able to fix a problem that I cause by trying to fix the problem…. It goes round and round and there is no rest.
When little things like the words from the past that came back to hurt me today, are sent to annoy us and slowly ware us down, we become even more exhausted trying to make right the wrong. We must forgive ourselves and move forward! The answer? Take up HIS yoke. Chose to live HIS way. Follow HIS Word. Then, and only then, Can we rest in HIM. Once we lay down the control of the little things and let God guide us then we can pick up His grace, His love, and His mercy. With that comes His peace, His rest, and His future.
Can’t sleep? Got peas under your mattress? Are your sheets bunched up underneath you? Are there things that hurt and distract you, things that make you feel less than HIS Child? Go to Him. Reach out in prayer and seek Him. He promised if we seek we will find Him (Jer 29:13) and He will give you rest. He will turn the things meant to harm you into things that bless and fill you with His peace. So rest easy and know that He is the only one who matters.