[This article will also appear in the February 2013 Fellowship of Christian Job Seekers newsletter]
http://globaljobseekers.org/page.php/1698-Carolyn's-Perspective
What does it mean to rest in the Lord? Have you ever heard that term before? Sometimes I really wonder what that is supposed to look like. There’s so much work to be done, we argue. Places to go, people to see, things to do. Got to earn that money; got to make that connection, got to look up something. Got to make another friend on Facebook, and on an on. You know what I’m talking about.
What on earth could the Lord have meant when He inspired David to write the psalm that says, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;” ? (Psalm 37:7). Of course, you know as well as I do how busyness makes us feel like we’re accomplishing something. And the devil tells us we’re lazy if we’re not hyperactive and frenzied most of the time. Tell me if this isn’t the case.
‘All Our Trials, Lord…’
The Lord wants to teach us to deal with the tension between all the demands made on our lives and what our true purpose is in life. Remember, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is our life. Remember that. How often we forget. We’re trying to work and support ourselves and other people. The “economy” is driving us crazy. We’re worried about countless things. I’m just trying to talk plainly here.
Psalm 37 is a wonderful place to go to gain perspective. Of course, the Lord will lead you where you need to go. You don’t need me to tell you. All we need in the body of Christ is more people telling us what to do, right? At least that’s what it seems like when we’re constantly logged onto the Internet on the “information highway.” Let’s tune into the “King’s Highway.”
The ‘King’s Highway’
“Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity,” David starts out. King David had to deal with Saul trying to kill him after God removed him from his position. How sad for Saul to be called to be king and then to be removed because of incomplete obedience (I Samuel 15). How said for David, chosen by God but then to be persecuted by Saul. David responded by going to God.
That is the King’s Highway, the highway to heaven, the highway to success, the highway to God’s favor and blessing; turning to Him, looking to Him, resting in Him. And how do we do that? The enemy will fight against our finding time to be alone and seek the Lord. Not for “results” but just because we want to be with Him, because we need to be with Him.
Rest in the Lord
I want to remind you that even though you may feel alone right now, you are not. Even as we connect out here on the Worldwide Web, we are members of His body. We edify one another, and, most of all, we come together because of who He is: Jesus Christ is our Mediator and our Intercessor. Think of that. The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is praying for you right now, all the time. If His Spirit lives in you, you can’t lose, brothers and sisters. You can’t lose.
“Do not fret – it only causes harm,” David wrote in verse 8 of Psalm 37. So, if you are doing that, stop. Take some time to look into God’s word for yourself, to feed on His promises and rest in His presence. Don’t have time to slow down, sit still, rest and refresh? We always find time for what’s important to us. Don’t we?
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