This summer I’ve
been praying about what God wants to teach me. So far, one verse has come to
mind. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Those who know me
understand that being still and doing nothing is very hard for me. I’m a type A
person and I like to accomplish my goals. I usually have a goal list set up for
the summer, but I’ve felt that this summer is to be different, which it has
been. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve done a lot of fun things, but I’ve also rested
in the Lord a lot more than usual.
Since I love to
garden, I’ve had to pull out quite a number of weeds this year because of all
the unusual sunshine we’ve been having here in the Northeast. As I’ve been working, I feel that Jesus also wants
to pull out some weeds in my own life. I’ve been asking Him to show me what
they are. I know busyness is one of them. During the school year, I felt like a
marathon runner on a never-ending treadmill; I daily called out for God’s strength
and grace(Song from Laura Story), which He supplied.
The year was very challenging
in other ways too, filled with many art projects and emotionally needy children.
I know that God now wants me to rest in Him—reading, praying and listening for His
gentle voice, but it’s difficult after a year of non-stop going. You get into the
habit of always doing. Yet I know this is what God wants for me. The challenge
is to allow Him to slow me down in this fast paced, goal-oriented society. I can
get so caught up in doing things rather than just being a child of God.
It’s been a
struggle, this resting and doing “nothing.” I didn’t make my goal list for the
summer or start a big writing project. Once I got through this cloud of ceaseless
activity, I felt released from a great pressure to perform and allowed God to
simply love me the way I am. and help me to relax. It’s had a healing effect on both my body and
mind. My hands are recovering from doing a lot of work and my mind is more at
peace.
Though it is a
rest from human activity, it can be a time to allow God to probe your inner man
and show you areas that need to change. For some this can be frightening, setting
them on a path to doing things to change. Yet God has revealed to Me it’s more
about surrendering and allowing His grace to transform us.
God showed me that
I was able to appropriate His amazing grace to get through a busy year, but
that I also need to utilize grace in the more restful times. In the beginning
of the summer, I purchased the very popular book by Phillip Yancey, What’s So Amazing About Grace. Though I
haven’t started it, I think God is revealing its message to Me through other
means. Today, I came upon the online devotion from First 15, "The Simplicity of
Grace." It spoke volumes to me about what God is trying to show Me. He’s done it all
for us! We can rest in His work of reconciliation and forgiveness. We do not
need to prove ourselves to God. What we do for God should be born out of our
love for Him and what He has done for us! This is so freeing.
God’s love and
grace go hand and hand. They bring such freedom to our spirit and soul. They help
us to rest wherever and whatever we’re doing—in the middle of a difficult
situation, at home or at church, with friends or family and even enemies! I
think that God’s grace may pour down more abundantly when we are confronting
darkness, though it is ever present even in times of blessing.
Today, many American
Christians are faced with this same dilemma—to rely on God’s grace and rest in
Him during a time of prosperity. Often prosperity tends to makes us more self-reliant,
so the challenge for us in our business and success is to continue in His grace
and rest from our own good works. How
about you?
I’d love to hear
about your experiences with resting in God and His grace! Please leave a
comment.
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