Rest in the middle of Restlessness
Rest and resting in Jesus is something that God has gently been teaching me over the years. He has slowly peeled away layers of self-sufficiency. Not because I feel adequate but because I fear being seen as "inadequate." He has smoothed out the areas that would so easily wind me up and get me all bent out of shape because life is not "adding up" or "making sense" in that particular moment. He patiently speaks over me reminding me that I am enough because He is enough. I do not have to strive or fret because He has a good plan and purpose for my life. I am secure in His loving and all knowing hands.
Being His daughter and being found in Him is not an "add on" to my life as a believer but that IS my life. It is my aim and purpose to make much about Him. I live to worship and praise Him for how marvelous and wonderful He is because He is God. To bring Him glory that is due His Great Name. So by God's grace, I am not where I started. I am forever grateful for these new rhythms - release, receive, rest.
While God has brought me a mighty long way, I am far from having mastered the art of resting, especially in the middle of restlessness. It seems like our culture and world is becoming increasingly more restless. We are constantly "plugged in" but not truly connected. We have access to more information than ever but yet it seems like the more we have the less informed we really are. It's an upside down kingdom. But we are not without help. Jesus knew. He knew in this world we would experience grief, sorrow, tiredness, exhaustion and weariness. He knew our culture would run us ragged, if we allowed. It is an intentional fight to not drift with the current but to swim against the current - in rhythm with the current of Heaven.
Jesus knew it would be hard so He lovingly and compassionately extends us this invitation - the gift of Himself and a new way of living. In Matthew 11:28-30, He says, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
What a personal and intimate invitation to come just as we are - in our present state and condition. To fall into His loving arms, to bury our face in His chest and to rest. To cast, drop, release the heaviness of our burdens and be restored in His presence. To receive His care and peace - to breathe again and let Him shepherd our hearts. And in that place of surrender, Jesus renews and refreshes us. After we are strengthened, He then tells us, shows us, places on us only that which He has perfectly fashioned for us to carry.
Because of Jesus, we can find rest and rest in the middle of unrest and restlessness. Jesus is our Rescue, our rest and reset. And that's really, really good news.
Being His daughter and being found in Him is not an "add on" to my life as a believer but that IS my life. It is my aim and purpose to make much about Him. I live to worship and praise Him for how marvelous and wonderful He is because He is God. To bring Him glory that is due His Great Name. So by God's grace, I am not where I started. I am forever grateful for these new rhythms - release, receive, rest.
While God has brought me a mighty long way, I am far from having mastered the art of resting, especially in the middle of restlessness. It seems like our culture and world is becoming increasingly more restless. We are constantly "plugged in" but not truly connected. We have access to more information than ever but yet it seems like the more we have the less informed we really are. It's an upside down kingdom. But we are not without help. Jesus knew. He knew in this world we would experience grief, sorrow, tiredness, exhaustion and weariness. He knew our culture would run us ragged, if we allowed. It is an intentional fight to not drift with the current but to swim against the current - in rhythm with the current of Heaven.
Jesus knew it would be hard so He lovingly and compassionately extends us this invitation - the gift of Himself and a new way of living. In Matthew 11:28-30, He says, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
What a personal and intimate invitation to come just as we are - in our present state and condition. To fall into His loving arms, to bury our face in His chest and to rest. To cast, drop, release the heaviness of our burdens and be restored in His presence. To receive His care and peace - to breathe again and let Him shepherd our hearts. And in that place of surrender, Jesus renews and refreshes us. After we are strengthened, He then tells us, shows us, places on us only that which He has perfectly fashioned for us to carry.
Because of Jesus, we can find rest and rest in the middle of unrest and restlessness. Jesus is our Rescue, our rest and reset. And that's really, really good news.
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