It was early this morning. The sun was up, cresting the horizon, spilling molten gold over the roof of the barn. Driving down Main Street, I felt a thrill of pride at the sight of American flags waving from lamp posts that were themselves festooned with flowers in riotous colors. Ah, yes. Summer at last.
What a difficult few weeks it had been. Life had thrown some curve balls, leaving us scrambling to catch up, get ahead, work it through. I'd fallen silent, needing time to process, to listen, to receive.
"Rest." I knew His voice. "You're working so hard to figure things out. You're striving, trying to 'get it right,' to figure out what it is you're doing wrong."
Oh. Well, yes. That's exactly what I'd been doing, and wasn't I exhausted in the trying?
For a second, the faces of my children flashed through my mind. Weren't there times I wanted to gather them up, to pause from the 'character reformation' and just enjoy them? Let them rest? Let them - be? Oh, yes.
"Just rest." There it was again. "...And walk with Me."
Pulling The Book out of my sturdy backpack, I opened it up, looking...and there it was. "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Rest!
"Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me...and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
"Come."
As always, He'd pared it down to the simple, the basic, the elemental. No 12-step program. No complicated list or hoops to jump through. Just - come.
I saw a picture, then, of a wooden yoke. On the right He stood patient, waiting. The spot on the left? Well, it was empty because 'someone' had slipped out of it, going it on her own and finding exhaustion, turmoil, and heaviness. And I knew what was needed. Laying down my stubborn will and slipping back into the yolk with Jesus, walking in step with Him, letting Him carry it all, was the way to rest.
Could it be (just maybe?) that He's whispering the same to you? You who, too, are weary, laboring under burdens far too heavy for your back to bear? His word to you, friend, is the same: "Come and rest, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Come and rest. Come and walk. Come and live.
Lovingly offered,
Rhonda
5 comments:
I'm at a different stage of life than you - not so much physical rest needed (actually, probably need to incorporate a little more physical exercise into my schedule)...but the invitation - or is it a command - to come and rest certainly applies to my mind. It has been overly active lately; and not in a good way.
Thanks for the "nudge". And may you experience His rest at every level, too.
I believe the whisperings are much the same. Thank you for urging me to listen and follow through.
Much love and blessings,
Karen
Hi, Rebecca. I was thinking more of mind/soul rest, even though physical rest is needed so much right now. They're so connected, aren't they?
And Karen, I hope you can find time for some R&R this summer. Surely - hopefully! - this will be a great year for you.
There's lots of restlessness in my life these days. Thanks for sharing these thoughts! Definitely time for me to let go and rest in Him.
Rhonda:
We don't realize how important rest is until we are faced with stressful circumstances in our lives. Thanks for sharing His reminder with us.
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