Finding Rest for Your Soul

My soul finds rest in God alone. My salvation comes from Him. Psalm 62:1

I know how to rest, but sometimes I still feel tired. I always get plenty of sleep every night. I know how to take a Sunday afternoon nap. I'm really good at sitting in front of the TV or curling up with a good book. But I'm not so good at resting in the Lord. I know how to do Bible Study, set up and tear down displays at church and run around "putting out fires" on Sunday mornings. I know how to go to staff meetings, return phone calls and create bulletins. But what does resting in the Lord look like?

Maybe it looks like the day I sat on my porch swing, looking up into the trees, saying, "Lord, how could this possibly be Your will?" That was a day when I was completely broken. My whole world had collapsed around me and I couldn't see how any of it could possibly be God's will. But as soon as those words reached the front of my mind, God answered me. I heard in my heart, "It is my will that no one should perish, but that everyone would come to know Me." The whole interaction didn't take more than a couple of minutes, but I felt that I had heard from God that day. My answer to God was, "Okay God, then let me see it. Let me see people come to know you because of what I'm going through! Let's go and get it done--I have to see some purpose in this." God and I got busy. But now I struggle to hear from God so clearly.

How do I get to that point with God in the busyness of life? When I'm not so broken that I can't function but instead I'm trying to accomplish something for the Lord? At the time God met me on that porch swing, life had come to a screeching halt, but I couldn't stay there. I don't believe it was His will that I stay in that place of brokenness. But now my mind is so full of things that need to get done. It's hard to quiet all those things long enough to hear from God.

Help me to find rest in you, Lord. Not in denial, repression or avoidance. My issues are big and they are out of my control. Worrying and stressing don't do anything but wear me out. They solve no problems. You promised, Lord, that those who sow in tears will reap in joy! So today for this few minutes, I rest in that promise. Then I will continue to sow and wait for the harvest.

2 Corinthians 13:12-13 (MSG)

12We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
13But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

I was led to this scripture almost five years ago at a time when I desperately needed something to hold on to--something worth getting out of bed for. It has pulled me through times when I thought I had nothing to hope for--when I couldn't see clearly. My desire is to share this gem so that others will find the same unswerving hope in the midst of hopeless circumstances. I'm here to tell you it is possible!