Like so many of us, she's a doer, and, boy, it's mighty hard for us busy, busy, busy doers to be still. Be quiet. Rest. Recover...not just our worn-out bodies, but more often our exhausted, frazzled hearts and spirits. We want to get better now, so we can get back out there and go, go, go.
Not that I would know anything about this. I'm just saying...
HA! What a lie! I'm horribly impatient and anxious to do, do, do...rather than be. In fact, right now I've been fighting a terrible case of grumpiness and discontentment largely precipitated by a silly foot injury. Not only does it plain old hurt--and pain can get you so self-focused, which is never a good thing--but Mr. Bingley spends half the day whining and looking at me with a mixture of sorrow and reproach. "Why on earth aren't you taking me for a walk," I can almost hear him whimpering. So on top of everything else, I feel guilty. Geez.
My point in all this? Well, for one thing, a reminder of how desperately I need the forgiveness and grace of the Lord Jesus every day, every hour, every moment. How ridiculously prone I can be to throw a pity-party in my mind...and before I know it, I've forgotten the Lord's extravagant and utterly underserved goodness in my life.
Gift upon gift upon gift He's showered upon us in family, friends, home, creation...all of Life! But even better, there's His Word, His presence, His power, His love, His peace...
And His Son. Oh my the priceless, wondrous gift of Jesus and salvation!
Oh forgive us, Father, when we forget. When we lose sight of You and Your goodness, because we're too preoccupied with ourselves and our circumstances.
But there's another lesson, for one of the unexpected treasures of being forced to slow down, of getting off the crazed merry-go-round of busyness, is this renewed, redeemed perspective. When we have to slow, we hear Him speak. When we suddenly pause, we sense His presence. When we have to change our usual routine, He comes into that now empty space and loves and teaches us in deeper ways.
Yes, He's always speaking. Yes, He's always there. Yes, He's always loving and teaching...but we often fail to truly hear and listen. As good old James tells us, we need to "be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger" (James 1:19). How can we hear Him if we're too busy speaking, rushing, doing, and going 24-7?
As our texted my sweet friend, "Yes, it's so hard sometimes to slow down and not be busy, busy, busy. But think of all the ways God is going to be speaking to, and loving you, in those quiet spaces. 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' (Isa.30:15) So against our nature, isn't it? But that's the very place where He blesses!"
Today, let's pause and, as Brother Lawrence says, "Practice His presence." Slow down and savor His goodness. Stop with the busy, complaining self-chatter and fill that space with His life-giving, hope-infusing Word. Rather than the quick glance, spend time gazing--and then praising--God and His beauty.
Choose quietness and trust in the Prince of Peace and King of Kings and rediscover your strength. Rest of the soul and the body is a choice. Let's choose to rest in Him, for He is infinitely worthy, able, and glorious.
To God be the glory.
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