Be Still and Rest

The weather today is 19 degrees, but feels like 6 with the wind chill.

“He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss.” Psalm 23:2 -The Passion Translation

The weather statement and the verse above sound like completely opposite places. The first is cold, windy, freezing conditions and the other is a tropical paradise. But they both are intended to bring about the same thing, peace and rest. How is that possible?

I have today off work, in fact I am in the middle of a long holiday weekend and still have 2 days remaining. The last few weeks have been very busy getting ready for the holidays and running around visiting family and friends. Everything has been operating in high gear and now that the holidays are over it feels like a sudden stop.

In times like this I have a hard time slowing down to a normal pace and can often feel anxious about sitting around doing nothing. I feel like I should be working on something, going somewhere or being productive in some way. I create projects to keep myself busy and pace around looking for things to do.

My message from God is, “There is a time for everything. Right now is a time for rest. Be Still. Find My Peace. Renew your strength.”

In the bible it tells the story of the disciples whom Jesus had sent out to share the Good News. They had returned and were telling Jesus all about their adventures and the excitement was great. Then Jesus said, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

It wasn’t long before the crowds found them and their work continued, but they had some time to get away from everything and be still with Jesus. Even a small amount of time spent with Him can rejuvenate our minds and our spirits.

Today God was helping me find some time with Him. I was feeling anxious, all my household chores were done, my hair colored, Christmas decorations all packed away for another year and there I stood pacing. So I decided to rest….not exactly. I decided to go outside and fix my snowmen that are wearing hula attire and looking like they’ve had a few to many mai tai’s because the wind has started to tip them over. The temperature is 19 degrees and feels even colder than 6 degrees, causing my Hawaiian snowmen to become ice sculptures!

How does that bring peace and rest? Because it is too cold to stay outside working on another project, so I came inside. That’s exactly what God wanted for me, to be inside, relaxed, warm and hearing from Him.

The bible has many stories of ways that God intervened to get people going in the right direction. There were storms, diversions and even talking donkeys. How much easier it would be to just obey when He says rest. There is a purpose for that rest. I’m sure we need it or He wouldn’t suggest it. He also knows what lies ahead and He is a preparing us and strengthening us because He is a good God and a loving Father.

So I’m going to obey. He’s already taken care of the details too. For Christmas I received a selection of bath salts and spiced teas. Looks like He arranged a time of rest in a hot bubble bath just for me. I’m going to think of it as my “quiet brook of bliss.”

My prayer

Father, thank you for arranging a time of rest for me. Please forgive my stubborn will to stay busy. You are a good and loving Father that knows all my needs and provides abundantly more than I need. Thank you for Your creative diversions to get me on the right track. In Jesus name. Amen.

Where does my help come from?

Mark 6:31

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Ecclesiastes 3: 1

“There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens”