by Elizabeth Haarberg

Taking a Break

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

I took a break from writing this blog and the reasons are multiple, so I will spare you the details. A hiatus is an interesting subject; a break can be a positive element such as a vacation, a break from serving on a board or committee, or a break from college, but some areas of life are riskier to take a break from such as marriage, our relationship with God, and parenting young children, to name a few.

What would be some reasons a person would take a break from growing in their faith? I’ve heard some say they are slowing their spiritual growth to allow their spouse to catch up. Others have said that raising kids and being married is all-consuming, and they don’t have time to grow their faith. Others may say they are spiritually mature and don’t need more growth in that area.

The problem with taking a break from growing our faith is that it doesn’t take much or long to become distant and far away from God; I know this because I have experienced it. If true connection is broken for very long, God can seem foreign by the time we notice.

I didn’t realize how much writing this blog kept me connected to God. When I took a break from writing, I craved the closeness I had with God, but by the time I realized what was going on, a lot of time had passed.

I truly rejoice in writing these words today; it is a reunion for me. Reuniting with the things I love, praising God for all he does and has done and will do, writing about my first Love, my Savior, my Comforter, building my faith and growing in new areas.

It’s never too late to start again or start for the first time. Jesus has known me my whole existence. I’ve known him for 16 years. It’s almost like my life is split, before I knew God and after. I’m thankful for it all. If you have taken a break from God, it’s ok, just enter in again. If you don’t know God, just get to know him; you have a lifetime to be in relationship with Him.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 English Standard Version

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO