Resting. Sitting. Receiving. Reflecting. Abiding.
Not things we, as a nation, really enjoy.
We are always working towards something. To make something of ourselves. To be perceived as having it all together.
How often do we just sit back and take in all that God is doing?
Jesus did the work for us already by living the perfect life, taking all of our sin, and dying on the cross. Because of that, we don’t have to work towards anything. There is just the process of allowing God to shape us and refine us. We are completely holy already but our actions aren’t.
So what do we have to do to allow that shaping and refining?
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5
What does abiding look like?
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4
To dwell. To live there. To gaze upon his face.
The Greek word for presence is face. So as we seek his face, we enter into his presence and as we enter his presence we will see his face.
It’s being real with God and remaining with Him. When you’re looking at his face, the circumstances don’t matter. It’s thinking of Him as a friend like Shauna Niequist describes, “True friendship is a sacred, important thing, and it happens when we drop down into that deeper level of who we are, when we cross over into the broken, fragile parts of ourselves. We have to give something up in order to get friendship like that. We have to give up our need to be perceived as perfect. We have to give up our ability to control what people think of us. We have to overcome the fear that when they see the depths of who we are, they’ll leave. But what we give up is nothing in comparison to what this kind of friendship gives to us. Friendship is about risk. Love is about risk. If we can control it and manage it and manufacture it, then it’s something else, but if it’s really love, really friendship, it’s a little scary around the edges.”
We risk not being in control when we rest, trust, and abide. But the reward is so much better than if we hadn’t given up control.
What does resting look like? What does a Sabbath look like?
God rested on the seventh day. He rested, blessed the day, and made it holy. Holy. Set apart. Set apart from the busy culture full of noise.
Resting is slowing down. Taking in each moment.
I think of Henri Nouwen’s words, “More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress. But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them.
How is He calling you to rest and trust in Him?
Maybe it’s going on a hike with some friends or spending a whole day with your phone and work email turned off. Maybe it’s calling up a friend and talking about something that has been on your heart or maybe it’s going off on a personal retreat for a weekend.
You’ll be surprised what will be accomplished without you lifting a finger. Our treasures in heaven are not the things we obtain on this earth or work towards.
He created creation by speaking it into existence. What makes us think that His words aren’t still ringing throughout all of creation, even as we rest?
Let there be light.
