“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
“And in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you as a father carries his son, all the way until you reached this place.” (Deuteronomy 1:31)
Before the new year, I retreated. I retreated from people, the world, my house, my jobs, my normal life. It was great. I spent a night and a day in a cabin in the woods that a friend let me borrow. I wanted to spend some time being with Jesus and planning for 2009. Well, I was with Jesus, but I definitely didn’t make any 2009 plans.
I wanted to learn something that day. I wanted to grow, to be encouraged and to be rejuvenated. I had hoped that God would teach me something new about Him or myself or life. I had a mission for the day and instead, I woke up in the morning (on the 30th) and went downstairs only to sit in an armchair with my feet up for the rest of the day. The day before, I had told a friend of mine that I would probably be bored and want to do something else. My feelings were completely the opposite. That day, I RESTED.
My time with Jesus wasn’t spent studying, planning, learning, visioning or anything like it. I came to Him, and I rested. I took His yoke upon me to learn from Him and I found rest in my soul. That day, I was weary and burdened, and HE GAVE ME REST.
Tonight, I read back through my journaling from my time at the cabin. I want to remember that day forever. I want to remember the feelings so that I never cease to go to Him. I would encourage you to do the same... it is amazing, trust me.
I wrote down all of the unknowns in my life, forming them as questions that I have no answers to. Next, I entered a journey to rest with the Lord, included in my following journaling from the day that is below. I want to share that with you, whoever you are, out there in that great big internet void. I want to share it with you so that you can seek and pray for this same rest for your soul.
“So many of these things are burdens to me. Not heavy, emotional burdens, but definitely things that take up thinking space to no avail.
“I think I want to take the next step in trusting God--with EVERYTHING.
“There is no way I can answer the above questions. So, why do I try? Why don’t I listen to the words of Jesus in Matthew and know that God wants to carry me like a father carries a son (Deuteronomy)?
“Today, I ask for rest in my soul. I come to you, God, and receive your invitation to take your yoke and burden in exchange for my own.
“I want to feel my weight in the chair I sit in. I want to have a resting mind that isn’t obsessed with “to do” lists. I want to have peace in my spirit from the comfort provided by the Lord at each and every moment, not concerned about the next moment, hour, day, year, or my life for the peace that He provides in this moment is enough for me to know that His promises, His care, His peace and His love will endure forever. For these things, I give thanks.
“I put my questions in Your hands.
I put my value as a human being in Your hands.
I put my future in Your hands.
I put my resources in Your hands.
I put my past mistakes in Your hands.
I put my life, all my days, in Your hands.
“And I trust You to hold these things, receiving the promises of peace you offer to me, in my burdened, weary state I’m in.
“Make me like You--give me a gentle and humble spirit like You talked about.
“And as for my soul... it rests... just as You said it would. Thank You, Jesus.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:1-3)”
Later in the day, I continued writing...
“I came to the cabin today to hopefully figure out some answers to some questions and uncertainties I had about my future. I think, though, that instead I just need to rest in Him and trust His plans for me... I will wait, submit, rest and I will love this grand adventure instead of always trying to figure it out.”
Care to join me?
