Brook Besor moments

Have you ever reached your 'I give up moment'?

There is one more chore to do.

One more bill to pay

One more favor for a friend

One more night of working late

One more fight with your spouse/child/parent

One more day of frustration at work/at home/or just about anywhere.

It seems that no matter what you do, It's not enough. There are only so many 'Just one more's' that you can handle. When you reach that 'I give up' moment, you shut down. You cry, you rage, you sink into yourself, shut the door on the world and say NO MORE! I am tired. You go on without me.

1 Samuel 30:21-25

Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them. But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with the plunder we recovered. However each may take his wife and children and go.

David replied, "No my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us. Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed behind with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike."

Two hundred men were exhausted. Too tired to go on. To tired to fight even for their own family. When David's men got angry at those who stayed behind, they cursed them and wanted them to go away. But not David. In all his wisdom he turned what could have been an ugly situation into one with dignity and respect.

These men stayed because they were pooped and no other reason, yet David gave them a way out. "They stayed with the supplies," he said. He dignified their decision to stay. He honored the soldiers that could not go on.

Isn't that the way it is with the majority of those you find in the streets? They are exhausted. So worn down by life, that they have just given up. There are many reasons they could have stayed at the brook. Divorce; a death of a loved one; medical disability; addiction. No matter the reason, they are in their brook Besor moment and need someone to be a David and tell them it's okay. It's okay to rest. It's okay to be exhausted from life. It's okay if you need to stay and sit for while. It's okay for you to watch over the supplies while we go to battle. God will fight when you can not.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

You and I are the soldiers who have gone to battle. We are the ones who leave behind the weary to watch over our supplies. Perhaps our own Brook Besor moments have not led us to the streets but we have all had them. A day of rest needed here. A day of exhaustion there. Let us be like David and accept them where they are. Then let us, especially those of us who call ourselves Christians, be like Christ and share our yoke with those who need to be carried for a while.

Inspired by Max Lucado "Facing Your Giants."