My husband and I have been practicing REST the past couple of weeks – basically since the holidays. We just purchased our one-way tickets to Peru, reached 100% of our support, got rid of our house and a car, and are now doing our best to fully enjoy the chance to sit back and reflect before everything really gets started. It has been incredible and as I take the time to actually sit back and LOOK at the things God has been up to, I am able to remember the big picture and just how stinkin’ lucky I am to serve such a good God. But this whole rest thing is a huge challenge for me. To stop in the midst of SO much that is going on feels like a set-up for failure when things are in my hands. I often feel like if I were to stop and rest, I’d slip beneath the surface and lose sight of my goal. It’s my instinct to hustle and keep hustling until the goal is accomplished and I’ve determined my next. But throughout this crazy season, God’s been teaching me the opposite.
Any Bethel music fans out there? Haha who isn’t. Listen to “In Over My Head” -
// “And further and further my heart moves away from the shore
Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am Yours
Then You crash over me and I’ve lost control but I’m free
I’m going under, I’m in over my head” //
This song talks about the FREEDOM that comes when control is taken out of our hands; which sounds crazy doesn't it?! With this freedom comes the opportunity to rest and admit that we aren’t all-powerful. With this freedom comes a deep reliance on thee MOST reliable Source who also happens to love us unconditionally. This freedom allows us to take a breather, stop striving and simply watch in amasement at all He has for us. Maybe being in over my head isn’t such a bad thing. Maybe it's actually orchestrated to lovingly force me to release my grip on things and simply cling to Him as He steers the ship.
"The Lord is my Shepherds; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23