The Great Escape
by Linda Rodgers
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There was excitement in the air! Passports were safety tucked in my purse, the suitcases were packed, and the alarm was set for 3:00AM. I was taking my kids on a week’s vacation to the sunny south. Life had certainly thrown my little family a number of curves this year, and we were looking forward to the ‘great escape’ to make some positive memories.
I wanted to run away, to leave behind some unnecessary baggage and just chill. I felt like the Psalmist, David, who said in Psalm 55:6-8 (CEV), “I wish I had wings like a dove, so I could fly far away and be at peace. I would go and live in some distant desert. I would quickly find shelter from howling winds and raging storms.” Do you ever feel like this? Do you feel you just want to run out your door and keep running?
There are times in our lives when we are refreshed by escaping away to a place where our heart can settle and our mind can gain perspective. You certainly don’t need to have an airplane ride, or a packed suitcase to do this. However, we all need to be refreshed from the daily grind of life. Many times I have found that a special spot to sit, pray, and listen to God’s heart has given me the escape needed to carry me through the week.
God promises to take our weariness and our burdens. The hard part is for us to give them to Him and trust that He will take care of them. “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest” (Matthew 12: 28, 29 CEV). God never fails in His promises.
As I sat on the porch enjoying the quietness and the view, I found myself thanking God for the time away to get my tank filled again for the Reality of life. It was good to rest and sit. It was good to make fresh memories with my kids. It was good to know that at the ‘end of the day’, God would be back with me in my daily grind and the busyness of a door that continually swings with schedules. I knew that God would give us hugs along the way, but I knew that during our little escape He had met with me and refreshed my spirit.
“You have rescued me! I will celebrate and shout, singing praises to you with all my heart” (Psalm 71: 23 CEV).
Questions: How can you find a small get away this week to sit quietly, give your burdens and allow Him to refresh your soul? Share ideas for a mini – break in a busy week and encourage us with your story of finding God’s refreshing.
About the Author: http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/linda-rodgers/
I want to wish all you wonderful ladies who juggle life, pain, and joys a very wonderful weekend refreshed and surrounded by a God who desperately wants you to ‘enjoy the journey!’
hugs to you all, Linda Rodgers
It was such a blessing reading your beautiful devotional. We all need to ge away sometime, even if we just sit on the back porch, listen to the birds chirping, while enjoying the still and quietness. It is awesome to be still and know that he is God, and he will do just what he said he would do. He is an on time God, yes he is. You devotional was truly relaxing and wonderful to read, and letting us know , we don’t have to get on a plane, to go to another country or state all the time, the peace and serenity sometimes is in our backyard or anywhere when you have the house to yourself. Ma God Bless You
Hi Everyone! Thanks for sharing your comments about my article. I see there is another Linda R in this blog! Wow…2 of us in this world!! :)
I am encouraged that despite the stressors in your lives you take the time to refresh yourself and allow God to speak to you in the most special spots that are just for YOU.
For those curious, Gail Rodgers is a dear friend. I treasure that.
May God be your most ‘amazing escape’ as you face this week. Enjoy the ride! Linda Rodgers
Hannah you are so precious and I so appreciate your love, prayers and remembering me on August 24th as that is a difficult day for me. Hugs, Linda!!!
Hi everyone, what a great devotional today, thinking about God’s giving us rest, refreshing us with His beauty ,that all of these things gives us such a peace. Watching the sunset each day is one of my favorite things. Praying at that time as the day is coming to an end and thanking Him for the day and acticipating His Loving Presence which is always there. I loves all of the post, and Linda, I love you, and have the 24th on my calender. You are so precious to us all. Hugs, hannah
One of my ways is fishing, especially when either drifting or anchored. I go into something of a trance while feeling the warmth of the sun and the coolness of wind on my face; watching the shifting blues, blacks, whites, and silver of waves around me and the boat rocks gently up and down; looking up into the sky and watching the clouds change as they scud by; and listening to near silence except for the sound of water lapping against the boat, birds singing in the woods, a occasional splash from a fish that just jumped, and the calls of loons…With nowhere to go, and nothing that has to be done, it is a wonderful time for me to be filled with peace.
Just setting up to get your ideas, ladies :-} .
Blessings to y’all! My time alone w/HIM is out in my flower gardens tending to its needs. Also on Thursday a small group of us join together to listen for HIS voice and to pray the things that are upon HIS heart for our area. Then each night, while just tucked into bed, I spend a quiet time reading HIS word and a few pages of a Christian book; this allows me to slip quietly into pleasant sleep.
Dear Linda, thank you for your kind words — what I would truly give, my precious friend, for you and LeeAnna to be able to share special times again! We don’t know why God allows such devastating heartbreak to befall His children, but we do know that He is faithful to comfort us and walk with us through it. You have been His testimony to such, and we thank you for pointing the way to Jesus! And, thank you, dear Linda, for sharing my joy despite difficult memories! God bless you, my sweet sister!
sound like me today so many thing boging me down, I just wanted to run away and hide.yes I tryed praying but I fell asleep. so I got my notebook and started to wright.I just poored out my heart to the Lord and as I wrote scripture came to mind, and I walked away leaving my gloomies in Gods hands and a song in my heart. looking for soomeone I might encourage, and at that point I relized my family was falling into my gloomies, so I was able to encourage them with what God had encouraged me with. All those hard things are still there but writing them down and giving them to the Lord, put the burden on His shoulders and reminded me they are His problem not mine. He will take of things in His time. If I well let HIm.
I drive to the next town once a week for volunteer and I take the scenic route! I listen to a Christian radio station and I take in the trees and flowers! I pray for people and I sometime get answers to prayer through a song or just being quiet in the car! I also like to put the lights out and use candles!
“eh” Marilyn what was that you said eh!!! Seriously Praise The Lord you got in and had a wonderful time. As I read about your time with your daughter I have to admit it brings tears to my eyes as my one and only daughter is with Jesus but deep down I am so very happy for you being able to have that wonderful opportunity. My quiet time with the Lord (now don’t laugh) is when I have a bath, it is just so relaxing and I don’t have to think of anything else but just Him and pray for the needs of others and I just find it is the greatest place for me to be alone with God! Hugs, Linda!!!
Linda, Thanks for this devotional site where people can share prayer
requests and be bless with scriptures and people’s experiences of trials and
how God deliver them from them. I find a get away place anywhere in the house. God has answer prayer today. Yesterday my husband came home
really stress out from his work. He commented how could he make for another 4yrs. before retiring. He couldn’t stand the noise in his work.
Its quite stressing to him. I had pray for him today and God bless he came
home and much happier he said his co- worker actually read a book in
between call. The norm is his co-workers chatter constantly. Its quite
noisy with T.V., radio, are so loud and have to take 200 calls all at once.
He turns down the radio and the T.V. though. He deals with radio and
and cell phone and computer.
Pretty amazing, the topic of this devotion today! For, I am praising our Lord for the blessings of sharing a special mother-daughter get-away just this past week! My daughter and her husband live 3 hours away, and she works full-time, as he goes to grad school full-time, so we do not get the opportunity to see each other as often as we would like! She is a radiant Christian, and our time together is full of worship, as we share the goodness of the Lord with each other! I treasure her love for Jesus, and thank Him for filling her heart with joy! We traveled into Canada (they let us in, Linda! ;) and returned from our trip grateful that God has blessed us so! I am so thankful for the ‘get-aways’ He lovingly provides for us, sometimes as wonderful, relationship-enhancing weekends with treasured family and/or friends!
i am not sure i could get away if i wanted so i close the door to my room and sit quitley and pray
Thank you for today’s devotional, Linda. I wondered if you were related to Gail Rodgers, who also contributes devotionals to this website.
I enjoyed everyone’s sharing of the quiet places with God. I, too, like to be out in nature and thanking God for His handiwork. Whether that is when I am walking my dog, feeding the wild birds in my yard, including the humming birds, watering my vegetable garden, my flower garden (and yes, that includes mowing the lawn, too) or when we go to our property we are developing. It’s like being in the country, but it’s inside the city limits. It is about 6 acres on a ridge which is across a small creek. There are trees and animals. . . deer, chipmonks, birds, and yesterday I saw a squirrel. I find rest in God when I spend time in His Word and in prayer. I fall short often, but I strive to thank HIM and praise HIM and find HIM in every situation . . . even when I am working out. I do thank HIM that I can work out because I am a stroke survivor and was paralyzed. I still have weakness on my right side, but with God’s help I am continuing to work on it. It will a life long process. Thank you, Lord, for . . . . “You have rescued me! I will celebrate and shout, singing praises to you with all my heart” (Psalm 71: 23 CEV).
My son and I were on our way to his boy scout meeting one night and we were early for once – I took a turn to a park near there and we got out and walked. It was about dinner time so there weren’t many people around. And we stopped and actually stood with our noses right in the middle of a huge lilac bush. I said, “We’re actually stopping to smell the flowers!” He said, “Close your eyes and just listen.” We did and it was wonderful. All the birds and yet all the quiet. And the Lord was providing all we were hearing. We thanked God for our time together. And I reminded Grant that “this” is always “here” for us. Whether we stop to take the time to listen to the quiet and calmness of our Lord, or not, He is there all the time. If we would just stop – he never goes away. He never leaves. He always ready to provide. We just need to STOP and listen.
I love this devo! In fact, the idea of getting away to rest with God is what prompted us to create Deep Well Ministries! We offer half and full day retreats so women can REST, RENEW and REALIGN with their Beloved Savior! Wish we were nationwide so we could serve you all! If you’re ever in Northern California join us and take time to be filled up!!! In His Deep Love, Courtney http://www.deepwellministries.org
Due to the fact that I am in my car traveling alot, I go on vacation with God during the day, I sing talk and laugh with him enjoying our time together when he has my full attention (of course I am paying attention to the road also, ha ha). I feel as if he is riding along with me. I share about the next family I am seeing in crisis and pray for them also but sometimes it’s just the sweet fellowship of my savior riding along with me even though the rest of the world is busy he is right there. He takes delight with all of us. Be encouraged today that the God of the Universe is awaiting eagerly to be a part of your every day. Love to all-Loreli
During a busy and stressful day a few weeks ago I took a late lunch at work and took a stroll over to my favorite coffee spot. I sat outside, read the paper and nourished my palate with wonderful bread with olive oil, cheese and vegetables feeling as if God was enjoying it beside me, watching the people pass by and spreading smiles. Gazing out at the sky as if it had no limitations. I went back to work that day refreshed and ready to work as if I was working for God. Its very easy to forget that when things get tense at work. Make today a beautiful day and don’t forget to take those small yet special times for yourself, as women we tend to always put our family first and sometimes everyone else as well.
About a mile from my home they are building a new wooded residential area of large acreage homes. Recently, I rode my bike through the newly paved streets, as there are no cars or trucks coming and going yet, and saw 3 deer at close range at different spots. This was midday 4pm.–an unusual time for the deer to be out in the heat! I am guessing, my bike does not make much noise and so I was able to get up on them before they realized I was there.
What a true blessing to experience God’s creatures and me–alone together. I plan to return many times.
I like to get up early in the morning before the kids wake up and take a cup of coffee out to my garden. I sit and enjoy the early quiet and watch God’s creation grow. I don’t know if God blessed me with a “green thumb”, but He has always blessed the ground that I plant in. My garden thrives as I pray thanksgivings over His Providence. I feel closer to Him out there than anywhere else.
Linda, thanks for your devotional and the smiles it generated this morning! I confess there have been a few occasions when I have threatened to “run away and join the circus!”
And okay, as silly as it sounds, one of my best weekly “get aways” is mowing the yard…90-minutes of no interruptions (unless the lawn mower runs out of gas). But that’s also 90-minutes of time I can enjoy God’s creative handiwork and pray and praise (and the neighbors aren’t deafened by my singing!) :)