I referred to these quiet waters in the lush green valley in my last blog post. Eventually, I thought, I will get to those still waters where restoration will take place. Eventually... because I was still in the path of the gushing waters coming down the mountain side. It was there, I wrote, that I would surrender to His unfailing love, His compassion and mercy. New every morning.
Well, perhaps I wasn't really surrendering. I was still trying to do things my way. I wanted to keep pushing forward, thinking my body, heart, and mind could somehow survive the gushing waters if I just stayed strong. If I'd just grit my teeth and bear the weight of the pounding waters, I could withstand the force.
I'm realizing that to surrender to His love means that He will do what He knows I need most. Like a loving parent who knows their child needs sleep in spite of the stubborn fight to resist a nap, He knows when I have pushed my body too far.
That's when He makes me lie down.
This week I tried to keep going. Tried to push forward, thinking I could somehow handle life, even with an all-night bout of food poisoning that drained me of any strength I had gained back the days before.
It didn't work.
It was then that my loving Shepherd forced me to lay down. He led me out of the forceful waters and took me to the green pastures where the still and restful waters flow peacefully. I had to stop trying to do life. I needed rest.
Come to me, those who are weary, and I will give you rest...
God grants rest to those He loves.
I have given rest to the weary, and joy to the sorrowing.
Jesus said to his disciples, Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.
I finally gave in. I surrendered. I claimed helplessness, and fell into His arms of love submitting to what He knew was best for me. More than a nap. A quiet place of rest. A place where He is able to refresh and restore the soul.
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