Time for a Vacation

A while back I was driving into the city of Battle Ground, Washington, coming in from the west side. Just past the Albertson’s on the left hand side of the road I saw a billboard that is typically covered with some kind of advertisement for a variety of products or stores. As usual, I gave the billboard a glance only to see that there was a new advertisement on display. I am not even sure who the product sponsor was, but I do remember what was on that billboard. There in full color was a slice of pineapple just dripping with beautifully glistening pineapple juice. Written across the billboard were the words, “IT’S LIKE A VACATION FOR YOUR TASTE BUDS”.

What a cool advertisement. There are times when your taste buds just need a break from the routine of the norm. And there are times when your soul just needs a break from the norm, from the troubles of today, from the pain of your problems. We need a place for our souls to rest and be refreshed. To go on vacation.

There is a man named David in the Bible and David knew of a place like that for his soul. He had many struggles to deal with. Some problems other people had inflicted upon him, and other struggles were self-inflicted. However his troubles came, David's soul was tormented. Sometimes to the point of feeling as though he was living in the grave.

It was in those difficult times that David turned to his place of rest and refreshment- David turned to the Lord. It was there that David found rest for his soul. You can read about it in Psalm 16. When that haunting feeling of living in the grave was washing over David, he went looking for the Lord because David knew that his soul would be lifted up. David confessed his confidence in God by saying, “For You will not leave my soul in the (grave).” And why did he have that confidence? I believe it is found in the last verse of that chapter.

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

When you know that about God, you can’t help but know that you can get out of the dumps when you go to spend time with Him in prayer, worship, reading the Bible, or being with His people. For all those activities can lift you up. It’s like a vacation for your soul.