May 10, 2016

Be Still Before Him

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.

-- Isaiah 30:15

Some days are just busy. I’m frantically trying to get everything done, to meet everyone’s needs, and there just doesn’t seem to be enough time for it all.

Deep breath.

I don’t have to get it all done. As someone told me today, it’ll be there tomorrow. I laughed at the time. That’s what I know. Because at the end of the day, it’ll be me that gets it done or it won’t get done.

It creates a busyness that frustrates me. Do you know what I mean? I long for the days I could kick back and simply read a book without interruptions and without feeling guilty for all I still needed to do.

Then I am reminded that rest is available. It’s been freely given to me but I have to reach out and accept it. Sometimes I have a difficult time doing that.

I think it’s part of being human. We want to control our surroundings. We want to be productive people. We want to look pulled together. So we circle round and round on a merry go round that never, ever ends.

Priorities. What are my priorities? Are they that never ending to do list? Or is it to quiet myself before my Lord and Savior to be strengthened and savored in His Presence?

I am not a perfect person. No one is. So I take it to God. I tell Him about the mistakes I’ve made, ask for His forgiveness and then take a different path.

And then I rest in it. We often beat ourselves up about something long after God has put it behind Him. Follow His lead. Move on.

Walk in His strength. Trust Him to work it all out. Be quiet before Him and listen for His voice. Remember that it is in the quiet stillness that we can most hear Him speak.

I don’t have to get it all done. Really, I never will. And that’s okay. Because I’m okay in His Presence. I find rest there. Always.