My time in Pretoria, South Africa has come to an end. Over this past weekend each of the teams that had been spread out over Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia made their way to Pretoria so that we could reconnect and hear about one another’s experiences over the past month. It was great to see everyone and hear tales from the month apart that included giant spiders, dancing in the moonlight and growing individually and corporately.
This month I think that the Lord has been teaching me to continue to rest in Him. The Lord laid on my heart one night Psalm 127:1-2. It says, "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep."
I am so prone to believing that my plans are what will make me happy instead of trusting that the LORD’s plans are better. I am so prone to working for the desires of my heart… chasing after wind… instead of choosing to rest in the truth that the LORD is the architect of my life and that He keeps watch over me. I love that He gives to His beloved sleep.
One of the nights this past weekend the teams that had reconnected gathered together to worship with one another. Music is not something that I love and as a result I know the words to very few songs by heart. Music is typically not a doorway for worship for me either and so most of the time when our squad corporately worships, I read scripture because it is the way that I hear best from the Lord and enter into His presence. On this night though I laid on the floor facedown because I was so tired and I just wanted to rest. One of our squad leaders was right in front of me and at some point he laid down too, but he was face up and as I was laying there I could hear his voice so well. It was like someone was singing right over me. Later we went outside to worship at the gates of the place that we were staying. It was late and cold and dark and so I got into a blanket with Emily, another girl on my team, who sang every song right into my ear because of the way we were standing.
I love that when I do not know the words to the songs we sing and when I am tired, He gives to His beloved sleep…. And lets others sing songs as though they were meant only for my ears to hear.
