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Thursday, August 21, 2008

Weariness or rest?


Time unfilled is like a vacuum. Have you ever noticed that? Take something out of your schedule and there is something new bound to come creeping in (something that must be done, no doubt) and take over those free minutes in your day. I am one who seems unable to keep busyness at bay. I like being productive. I like crossing things of my to-do list. I like putting things on my to-do list even if I've already done them simply to have the satisfaction of crossing them off! Anyone else like that? Hmm. Didn't think so.

I have experienced many evenings sitting with my husband answering the question, "So what did you do today?" All too often I know I have done hundreds of things, but feel like I've accomplished few. Is the busyness I am enslaved by meaningful? Or am I wearing myself out for no good reason...

Jesus promises rest, a release from the heavy burdens we bear from day to day. Even dailiness itself, the again-and-again quality of so much of our lives, is a burden we must surrender to fully live His promise.

But the rest spoken of in scripture is not always about bodily quiet, it can also mean trust.
In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength.
Isaiah 30:15

Trusting in God, fully relying on His goodness, His mercy, His grace in our daily living brings us true rest. It is more about obedience than a nap, so to speak, though I love a good nap!

Earlier in Isaiah, he expresses God's dissatisfaction with his people:
...God will speak to this people, to whom he said,
"This is the resting place, let the weary rest"; and "This is the place of repose"-
but they would not listen.
So then the word of the Lord will become:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
a little here, a little there-
So that they will go and fall backward,
be injured and snared and captured.
Isaiah 28:11-13

The people's willfulness in turning from God's offering of rest, their unwillingness to trust in the Lord and wait on Him, caused His word to become as nothing to them. It began to make no sense. Gibberish.

Meaningless activity apart from God, wearying busyness, not resting in God's faithfulness and trusting Him at His word.

That sounds awfully familiar...

The truth is that our doing, our busyness, our to-do lists take more from us than just sleep. If we do not make a point of trusting in God, resting our souls, laying our heads in His lap for a few moments in our day, all of the tasks in our day are senseless. Obedience in the daily things brings the true rest we need.

Let's not be like the Israelites. Let's listen. Let's capture our time, before something else captures and ensnares us.


Christine can be found daily at her personal blog:

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9 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

Very awesome, bless you.

August 21, 2008 at 12:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yes, I really needed to read this. Thank you!

August 21, 2008 at 1:07 AM  
Blogger windycindy said...

Amen. Great thoughts to take to bed with me! Thanks.....Cindi

August 21, 2008 at 1:26 AM  
Blogger Christi S said...

Amen and Amen! I needed that reminder today. The first of the school year feels sooooo busy to me....I forget how little I can sit down with new first graders. I needed this reminder to slow down and enjoy these moments, and get to know these kids. The 'things' will be there and get done, but relationships need to be formed!! May our God bless you today!!

August 21, 2008 at 6:27 AM  
Blogger Donna said...

It is always amazing to me how God's words come to us at *just* the right time. (Although, I don't know why it always surprises and amazes me.)

I recently took a giant leap of faith, quit my full-time and my part-time job to concentrate on finishing my degree. At 37, the sudden non-busy schedule took me by surprise, yet I quickly filled my time up with "stuff" that needed desperately to be done. This "stuff" has been taking time away from school, which is the reason I quit both jobs.

Thank you for this reminder that it is okay NOT to be busy all the time and that I do need to rest in the arms of God.

August 21, 2008 at 8:49 AM  
Blogger Ika Devita Susanti said...

talking about time, i remember my posting here:
http://paintyourlife.blogspot.com/2008/08/just-like-dream.html

anyway, i lately read about this resting to Lord things. it is really true that we need Him also as our sweet rest.

have a dreat day!

August 21, 2008 at 10:47 AM  
Blogger marie said...

Amazing, a huge answer to prayer! I have been thinking about this exact topic for weeks. Thanks so much for your insight...and praise God for His perfect timing.

August 21, 2008 at 1:42 PM  
Blogger much2ponder said...

This post is exactly what I needed today. In fact, I was just praying for the Lord to show me something that would help me to regain my perspective about my job and about many other things. Could this post be the answer? Perhaps, yes. Thank you so much.

August 21, 2008 at 5:13 PM  
Blogger LauraLee Shaw said...

Oh my, you struck a chord in me. The Lord has been doing that a lot with this issue lately. Thanks for letting HIm hold the pen.

August 22, 2008 at 2:31 PM  

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