Soul Rest

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Yesterday afternoon I was able to draw away for some much needed quiet time.  It had been a wonderful week, but a very full week: hosting my sister and two beautiful nieces, homeschooling my children, going on a camping trip with several other families, attending an airshow.  At this point in my week though, I was bone-tired, having unpacked from camping, folded multiple loads of laundry (it seems as though EVERYTHING gets dirty when you camp!!), and powered through pumpkin carving with the kids (quiet literally--my husband used a drill!).  After two long-distance phone calls, I was ready to head out to a local coffee shop with my Bible and journal in hand and get away; but when a neighbor friend hand delivered me a pumpkin spice latte (thank you, God!), I took that as my cue to stay put and simply retire to my bedroom for a little time off.

It wasn't more than a minute or two into my quiet time (which I enjoyed in my closet, since I could still hear the kids playing out back through the bedroom windows!) that I recollected this verse from the heart of Isaiah and quickly turned to the thirtieth chapter to read and reflect upon it, word-for-word:

"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

'In repentance and rest is your salvation,
    in quietness and trust is your strength,
    but you would have none of it."    Isaiah 30:15

Those words cut.me.to.the.core.  

Utterly exhausted and ready to drop, my head simply bowed with the weight of those words...but you would have none of it.

How often do I seek out true soul rest?  (Which, interestingly enough, is coupled with repentance of my sin.) Or do I merely "fake rest" (as Shauna Niequist puts it) by putting on my comfy clothes and steeping a cup of tea, but promptly letting it get cold as I put in that "last" load of clothes, wipe down kitchen counter tops, or power through a book?

Do I really believe that quietness and trust is my strength...or do I buy into the lie that more effort and more hustle and more striving and more planning will make things all work out?

Do I stand in quiet stillness and fully trust the Lord to change the hearts of my children and guide our education in the home?  Or do I secretly rely my own carefully crafted lesson plans, read-alouds, and canned devotionals to fuel their minds and inspire their souls?

Now mind you, these are all good things!  The Lord has blessed us with a home, books, devotionals, washing machines, and more! But they ought never to be trusted as my salvation and strength!  They are merely tools to be used--with an open hand, mind you--as I fully rely on the Lord to educate my children and care for the day-to-day needs of my family.

Oh! But the Lord did not leave me with hanging head and a heavy heart.  He graciously refreshed me with hope, as I turned from Isaiah to the New Testament and feasted on Christ's encouraging words in Matthew chapter 11:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”   Matthew 11:28-30

Christ's words compel me to come to Him, as weary and burdened and imperfect as I am, and truly rest.  Verse 28 states that I can learn from Him...which implies it is a process, a teachable process!  I have not arrived but Christ does not expect me to; He is graciously willing to come alongside me and teach me, day by day.  And this is not to enjoy just any kind of rest, but only the best kind--soul rest, as He calls it.  

Will you join me, too, friend?  Will you set aside all those things that make you and I feel strong and capable, and acknowledge that your true source of rest and strength is quietness and trust in our Savior God?  It is not flashy and it is not popular, but I pray you and I will be faithful to do that today!