Life’s Leaky Faucet

Drip! Drip! Drip! I can understand why this sound makes people feel a little edgy. It’s three o’clock in the morning and I stumble to the bathroom to see what fixture is causing the annoyance. The culprit is the bath tub faucet that I attempt to tighten and quieten. But it doesn’t stop!

The quietness of the house only amplifies each droplet of water that hits the porcelain. I fold up a dry wash cloth and place it under the faucet, but I know it will only bring temporary relief to my ears. As soon as the wash cloth is full of water a puddle will form, and my ears will again be assaulted by this ridiculous “sleep-stealer.”

I lie back down and await the inevitable. Drip! Drip! I promise myself that in the morning I will put a permanent “fix” on that noisy tub and I drift in and out of a restless half-sleep throughout the remainder of the night.

When I encounter a night like this, I am reminded that in a similar way there are little spiritual troubles in my life that need to be taken care of. From time to time I recall the small, seemingly unimportant spiritual “drips” that keep my mind from the quiet rest it needs.

Spiritual Rest-Stealers

I think about those little things that should have been taken care of, but weren’t; like the apology I should have made to my child when I spoke crossly to them, or the sincere thanks I should have expressed to my wife for the wonderful job of a dinner well prepared. They’re not glaringly obvious during the day when I’m busy, but at night they loudly pronounce their presence like a dripping faucet.

During these times of spiritual un-rest, I’m thankful that God has the ability to quiet the frustrations of a troubled soul.

“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest” (Isaiah 32:18).

Knowing that my Creator will help me take care of unfinished business in the morning when everyone awakens brings spiritual peace to my anxious heart. I can now drift off into untroubled slumber. I’ve found a permanent “fix.”