Returning to Rest

“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30:15‬

Father God, your thoughts and plans are greater than mine. They are beyond my own understanding. You reveal the next step, light the path in front of me. I can not see into the messy, murky future. It is all too much to bear.

My frame was not made to carry the future. To hold on to something that has not come to pass. What I imagine, may never come to pass. The future holds no real weight yet it can make every moment feel impossibly heavy. Each step as if walking through thick, deep mud.

Lord, I give you the heavy weight of uncertainty.
I give you my fears and doubts.
I give you my disappointments and heartache.
I give you all my plans and desires.
I give you my greatest hopes and dreams.

I give you this moment, right here, where you dwell. This moment is certain, spacious, beautiful, light. There is no striving, no hurry or worry. Right here with you, I can breathe, relax, rest.

I stretch out my arms and I twirl. I am a small girl again. I spin round and round, my hair shining golden in your glorious light. Dizzy with delight, I fall into your arms. You gaze into my eyes with full understanding, rapturous joy, unending compassion and love.

Together we laugh,
deep, uncontainable,
uncontrollable belly laughs.

This world spins round and round, offering no rest for the weary. Yet there is rest in the turning, the returning to your wide open arms. You right my world, you still my spinning, you lift me out of the heavy muck and mire, you place my feet on solid ground.

I turn and there you are, always near. I match your gaze and I see clearly. Your rich treasures tucked into moments, slivers of heaven on earth found radiant in the here and now.

In returning to this spacious, wide open moment—you invite me to rest.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 MSG