As I was reading my devotions a few years ago, I was challenged to examine my life to see what worldly pursuits I could exchange for “the will of God [that] remains forever” (1 John 2:17). Immediately, my mind assumed that I was looking for a money issue. However, I tend to not be overly indulgent in spending, and at that time, I was very content with my possessions, whether they were little or much. So, I was initially stuck, but it didn’t take long for Christ to reveal to me my fault.
Over the course of the week, I began to recognize my obsession with completing tasks and meeting the demands of life. Any small added request pushed me closer and closer to an emotional ledge. On Saturday, I snapped. We were at my parents to bake cookies with my mom’s entire family. The morning went great, but then it happened. My mom asked us to take my grandma back to her nursing home on our way home. I agreed, but was reluctant to do so. Then, she added, “Could you also take her laundry back with her and pick up the dirty laundry?” I became so overwhelmed by the requests that my anxiety sky-rocketed. I kept going over everything in my head and I assumed that my mom must think I had nothing important of my own to do. I was in a tizzy and everyone knew it. Even so, I completed what she asked with my bad attitude intact. Meanwhile, my loving husband was trying to talk me down from the emotional ledge I was seemingly about to go over.
On Sunday, I had calmed myself down and my pastor’s message spoke strongly into my life. I knew that Jesus was speaking directly to me. I now knew what my problem had been. I was caught in a whirlwind of people pleasing and task completing. I had not left room for my heavenly father to move in my life, for him to quiet my soul. I now knew what I had to exchange.
I chose to surrender my to-do list for time at the feet of Jesus. Even though I knew that there would always be things to do and demands on my life, I was determined to eliminate every distraction before I went to Jesus. Despite my best efforts, I never found the completion I was desiring. But, there is good news. Completion is found in Christ. My heavenly father was reminding me that my treasure is not in this world, but in heaven. At the feet of Jesus, I can lay down my burdens and all the demands that I feel pulling at my life. In his presence, he fills us up to feel peace despite the situations surrounding our lives. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” That week as I made the transition from task-master to soul-rester, I made sure to shower myself with scripture - the truth.
During that week, I also learned a lot about what resting in Jesus looks like. Here are a few:
Rest is not a reward for getting my work done. Rest is not something that will just happen. We need to stop our work and create time to rest. Resting is also not seeking fun or pleasure. Lastly, counter to my fleshly tendencies, rest is not at odds with my purpose in Christ. Resting our soul doesn’t mean that everything is done or that nothing is out of order in our lives. It is a peace that God gives. This peace ushers in the completeness we have received through Christ. Even though we will never match Christ in our earthly lives, the Bible tells us that our light will continue to grow until the full light of Christ is revealed (Proverbs 4:18). Finding rest in Christ’s presence connects us to the one who makes us whole in spirit, despite our flesh that falls short. We need to spend more time in the completion found in Christ, rather than the worldly demands of our faulty flesh.
As I read over this writing from a few years ago, I couldn’t help but realize how timely of a reminder it was in my life right now. My prayer is that God uses it to speak to you powerfully as well.
Take some time to read and reflect on these scriptures:
1 John 2:17, Philippians 4:6, Proverbs 4:18