Did you know that the Lord commands us to rest. I am reminded today of that command. The past two days I have had this horrible pain in my side, and if you know me you know that I am 24 weeks pregnant. So any little cramp or pain really gets me worrying.
Last night I soaked in the tub and laid down on our couch trying to get some relief, but nothing was helping. As I crawled into bed last night searching for a comfy position I found myself just begging that God would relieve the pain. Then this morning after some sweet relief from the heating pad and critical thoughts about missing the gym again I got a reminder from the Word of God. I was reminded to thank Him for the conditions that cause me to be still, and not wish them away only to become active again. I was reminded that God gives us strength in quietness and rest, and that His power works best in our weakness.
Zechariah 2:13 Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for He is springing I to action from His holy dwelling.
Isaiah 30:15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One or 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.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 Each time He said. “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
And if the Word of God is true then there is no denying that this command is for everyone. I think as humans were always trying to handle everything ourselves and sometimes we miss out on God’s springing into action. We miss out on His power because we’re too busy trying to be strong. We miss out because we beg Him to take away the hard things in our life like pain or sickness or uncomfortable situations when those are the exact things that are drawing us near to Him.
Transitioning from the sweet slow pace of Georgia to the city life was hard for me. I had to learn to tell people no, and it was hard because they were asking me to help them serve the Lord. I had to learn to decipher what God was doing and what people wanted me to be busy doing, thinking that that was God’s will.
Another transition that was hard was going from being a working wife to a stay at home wife. I was so caught up in what people would think I was doing all day. Oftentimes I let the pressure from people even my family push me into doing and making plans of action for my life again. Today I was reminded in Psalm that most of the time our plans for our life and God’s plans are very different.
Psalm 119: 59 I pondered the direction of my life, and I TURNED to follow your laws.
If the direction for my life that I was pondering were the same as the Lord’s would I have to turn to follow His laws? No.
So today I’m trying to let the Lord teach me His decrees, and I’m trying to just be obedient.
Psalm 119:64 O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.
Even when it’s opposite of what I think I should be doing or what other people think I should be doing, my purpose is to glorify Christ. In order to do that I must get out of the way and let Him look good. I must be okay with being weak so people can witness His mighty power.
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