Last week I took a some of our youth group to a camp at Harding called Uplift. The camp is 5 days long and are filled with games, Bible classes, and worship. It’s a really great week, but the days start early and go until really late. And then the kids want to stay up even later talking with friends in the dorms. And its usually really hot outside. The busy schedule, the lack of sleep, and the heat really wear the kids out.
We tell them at the start of the week “Don’t stay up late. Go to bed when you’re told to so that you can get enough rest. And drink lots of water, not just the sodas from the cafeteria.” And the kids look at us as if to say “What?! No way. I’m here to enjoy this week as much as possible. So that means I’m not going to waste my time sleeping when there are friends to hang out with. And I’m not going to fool with water when there are sodas available. I know what I’m doing.”
And inevitably, the kids are exhausted and grumpy by the end of the week. They are no longer enjoying the week like they said they wanted to do.
It’s easy for me to criticize the kids, but too often, I act just like the teenagers when God tells me how to get the most enjoyment out of life. He tells me to forgive others instead of holding a grudge, to not pursue wealth or worldly pleasures, and to serve other people freely. And I look at Him as if to say “What?! No way. I’m here to enjoy this life as much as possible. So that means I need to be in control and have all the coolest toys and look out for number one.” And when I do those things, I end up exhausted and grumpy and miserable.
I tell they kids at the start of Uplift to get rest and drink water SO THAT they will have the best week possible, not to keep them from it. And God gives us His instructions SO THAT we will have the best life possible, not to keep us from it.
Our God loves us and wants us to have life to the fullest. But in order to do that, we have to trust Him and live according to His Word, not what we think or feel.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Prov 3:5)