Stillness. A place my soul is learning to rest in. It’s a place where I am all alone with my thoughts and the Lord.
It’s been a gradual journey to get here. Little by little He sets activities aside, narrowing the focus to Him.
Some days my introverted side loves the quiet, other days the extroverted me wants community with hearts most like mine.
At the core of this stillness is surrender. So I press in, soaking up the truths that He makes me aware of … and for the most part I get them immediately. Then there are times when He has to thump me on the head like a ripe melon.
Today the stillness finds me at my middle son’s hospital bedside. Sickness has a way of bringing life to a halt.
So I surrender my thoughts and plans for this time … to wait, to focus, to listen, and to rest in His unwavering faithfulness.
I eagerly anticipated this day … to celebrate my risen Savior. There’s a sadness that we couldn’t be in the Lord’s house as a family today. No festivities, fellowship, or good food.
Of course Aaron’s sickness didn’t catch the Lord by surprise. So with every detail or event that the Lord allows to touch my days … I linger … waiting to hear His voice. Today in the quiet He reminded me of a few simple constants that my heavy heart needed to recall.
1 – When life takes a curve rendering you helpless and powerless … He is fighting for you and stands guard over every overwhelming detail.
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:14
Then I said to you, ‘Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes. Deuteronomy 1:29:30
2- When you are tempted to worry … pray instead.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
3- Let your faith kick in.
And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:22-24
Yes sometimes those directives are easier said than done, especially if fear creeps in. But though we go through these life bumps … He hasn’t deserted us.
In fact, it’s for the sicknesses we have … that He hung on a cross and died.
It’s for the many regrets that nag our memories … He willingly laid down His life.
For all the brokenness, the mistakes, the hurts, the barren places … for every inadequacy we are or feel … He became the sacrifice.
And finally the stillness reminded me that … one day when I see His face … all the longings in this patched up heart will become obsolete. He will fill in all the cracks of my soul with a love that completely fulfills.
I’ll be whole. What a comfort. What a faithful Savior.
So if and when you find yourself at a place where you are forced to be alone with your thoughts … there is a good chance the Lord wants to remind you of a few things.
It’s good to hear from the Lord.
I challenge you friend … Don’t resist the stillness.
Happy Easter to you. Ain’t God good?!
