Well, it's been several weeks--a packed and busy couple of weeks--since I've last been here and written a post. And it's been good things that have kept me away: things like working hard on lectures for Bible study--which is exactly where God has called me to be and what He's called me to do in this season of life; and watching our sons play in golf tournaments--a gift to be with them and to watch them in this brief season of life before they're all grown up and off on their own; not to mention life's daily necessities from laundry to carpooling to, well, you get the idea.
It feels like life's been hustling by at a frantic pace...but finally, a moment of respite. A Sabbath rest. Ahh. Breathe out stress and hurry. Breathe in His Spirit's strength and hope. Sit quietly with God's Word, not studying it to learn and prepare so I can try to give it out...but savoring it to hear His wise voice, admire His beauty, and enjoy His presence.
We need both--the busyness and the stillness, the studying and the savoring--but oh how we suffer when it becomes all about the practical, the get-it-all-done, the fill in the blanks and check the boxes and move on to the next bit of urgent business. Our souls must have time to breathe. Time to worship Him, rest in Him, gaze at Him.
I don't recall who wrote it, but I read many years ago--It's the glance that saves but it's the gaze that sanctifies. Even a believing glance at Jesus can save...but the process of sanctification and holiness requires gazing at the Savior. And with that gazing comes peace, perspective, deep-rooted joy, and wonder. But gazing takes time and patience. Gazing isn't hurried or frantic.
John Newton wrote, ""A Christian is not of hasty growth, like a mushroom, but rather like the oak, the progress of which is hardly perceptible, but in time becomes a great deep-rooted tree."
Goodness, we know all this intellectually...but in the stress and busyness, haste and urgency of everyday life, we forget. And so we push...rush...accomplish...toil...do...go...achieve...until we suddenly discover we're running on fumes with weary, worn hearts.
That's when we need--we must--crawl into our Abba Daddy's lap. Come to Him with all our weariness and weakness, hand it all to Him and simply rest. Listen. Look. Exchange our worry for worship. Exchange our hurry for humble dependence. Exchange our all our doing for desiring and loving Him.
The really good news? Our weakness makes room for His working and moving. Our inadequacy makes room for His infinite ability. Our emptiness makes room for His overflowing fullness.
As Paul put it in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Spurgeon said "Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up."
So right now if you are feeling weak and inadequate or weary and worn, take heart, because your Heavenly Father is ready and waiting to envelop you in His arms, to restore you with His love, to forgive you by His grace, to encourage you in His Word, to empower you through His Spirit. Our job is simply to come to the Father. Come to be forgiven. Come to be filled. Come to be renewed. Come to be restored. Come to be redeemed.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Mt.11:28-29)
Father, help us to come to You for the rest and rejuvenation that we all need and that only You can give. As we gaze at You, restore to us the joy of our salvation. Give us thankful, rejoicing hearts. Renew our strength so that we can run and not be weary as we fix our eyes on You and run this race You have set before us. You are infinitely worthy and able, Abba, and we place all our trust in You.
Slow us down that we might savor You, Lord Jesus.
To God be the glory.
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