[[-SOAP HUB]] | [[-Psalm Overview]] | [[Psalm 81]] ## Title: Smell the Roses on the Long Journey ## Scripture: (Psalm 81:6-7) It said: “I removed the burden from his shoulder; his hands were released from holding the basket. In your distress you called out and I rescued you. I answered you from a dark thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah) (NET) ## Observation: When my girls were little, we saved our money to take the girls to Magic Kingdom. They were so excited and so were we. We only had one day there so we tried to pack it all in. It was hot and there was a lot to do. Toward the end of the day, we were all so tired that we fell asleep in one of the shows. That was a great reminder that we needed to slow down. We were so busy trying to get to everything that we were not actually pausing to enjoy everything. The intention was good, but we didn’t want our lasting memory to be that we rode all the rides. We wanted it to be that we did things together, even if that meant we missed a few attractions. We have to be careful that we don’t get to the end of our lives and not remember the journey. In this passage, the songwriter is reflecting on the journey of God. He speaks of the good times and the challenges. It is important to stop and embrace the journey: both the good and the bad. It all goes into this beautiful tapestry called life. ## Application: Stop and reflect on your life. Think of the good things and the challenges today. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for giving us a rich and full life.