Here's the deal, people. Over the last couple of weeks, I've been feeling in over my head. Life is coming at me too fast, the days are too full, and I get overwhelmed at moments. I think God has me on an accelerated sanctification plan this spring! Every time I think a little rest might be coming, something else "comes up" and I'm challenged once again. My default is to seek escape, rather than endure with joy. The question is ever before me: will I cling to Christ or will I crumble before my circumstances?
Today I had an inspection scheduled for the car. I was proud of myself for remembering to schedule one before the end of the month and the sticker's expiration. Then last night I got a text from my neighbor, "You've got a flat." (Thanks to Kerri, by the way!) We knew this tire was trouble; we had just filled it Sunday and it was noticeably lower yesterday afternoon. But it was by the evening, without a doubt, flat. This text came in about the time that I'd decided to wash the dishes, ditch going for a run, and just sit for an hour before bed, reading and writing. I was so excited about this coming rest!
Rather than rest, however, Colin and I had to have a conversation about what to do with the car. I was tired and feeling done-in. I never did read. I just talked out how overwhelmed I was feeling at Colin, trying to work faith into the equation. Then we went to bed. The night felt like such a let down. It made me sad.
Nevertheless, the Word of God had been ringing in my ears all evening as I wrestled with the reality of life's fullness.
My soul finds rest in God alone.
Psalm 62:1
So what if it never changed? What if the relentlessness was really relentless? What if it never stopped? How do we find rest in the midst of the crazy?
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone.
Psalm 62:5
Rest is found in a Person.
Sometimes we know it and can say it, like the Psalmist in verse one. Sometimes, we have to command our souls in His direction, like in verse five.
The rest our souls long for, especially when life is extra full or extra difficult, can't be found in a perfect schedule, a life void of difficulty, or a vacation. Even if circumstances were "just right," our souls would still be restless. Here's how I know why.
The Psalmist says this:
My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Psalm 62:1-2, 5-7
The salvation, the ultimate rescue we're looking for, comes from God. The solid, unshakable foundation we seek is found in Him alone. He is the rock, the refuge, the fortress, and the source of salvation. He cannot be moved. If my life is hidden with Christ in God, I cannot be either. The world can rage around me for good and for ill, but with my eyes fixed on the God of salvation, because of the work of Christ and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, I can join the Psalmist in proclaiming Him, remembering the depth of the hope I have.
Just to be clear, there is nothing awful happening in my life, (which makes me feel even more terrible about feeling overwhelmed!), but I do feel overwhelmed by my responsibilities and how quickly the days go by. It is in the midst of that reality that the invitation stands to:
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to Him,
for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8
What's your reality today? Every moment of every day, the invitation stands. Will we trust? Will we cling to Christ and be filled with hope? Or will we persist in prideful unbelief? Oh, that our hearts would trust the Lord!
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5
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