Everyone who knows me knows I’m a planner. I like being able to put my day together so I can anticipate what’s to come, and I tend to pack my days to their fullest, making sure I squeeze every last drop of potential out of a day. Few people would probably ever describe me as being lazy; “busybody,” “overachiever,” and “sufficiently efficient” are perhaps more apt descriptions, though I have been known to excessively procrastinate, especially when it comes to grading a pile of math tests. Even my name, Emily, means “industrious” (thanks, Mom and Dad), and whether I was prophetically named or not, it is true that I err on the side of being efficient, to a fault.
But if my seven and a half weeks on the World Race have taught me anything so far, it’s this:
“In repentance and REST is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)
Throughout our time on the field, I feel like God has been trying to teach me about the value of “rest.” Yes, our days are filled with ministry activities. From door-to-door evangelism to miles of walking, visiting schools and churches, and pouring our lives into the people we meet, our schedule is often packed brim-full. But in the midst of it all, God wants me to be quiet before Him, to be still and know that He is God, and to rest so that He can restore my strength.
And if I am downright honest, I’ll say it’s been one heck of a hard lesson so far. I don’t “do” rest. I go and I go and I go, because that’s what I know how to do. But God is breaking my pride; effective ministry that bears fruit comes from a place where we ABIDE in Christ, where we are plugged into His life-giving grace, joy, and peace, so that we have all that we need to complete the tasks that He has called us to. Just as a tree branch that has been cut from the tree cannot bring nutrients from the roots to the fruit, neither can we pour into other’s lives unless we are first plugged into the wellspring of life.
How do I get from a place of self-sufficiency to a place of Christ-sufficiency? For He has said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (II Corinthians 12:9). I believe this to be completely true, but applying it to my once-busy-but-now-not-as-busy-life has been an interesting, growing experience. It all comes down to one thing: surrendering my agenda and embracing His.
If I were to make a comparison, my teammate Sabrina and I are very much like Mary and Martha, the sisters whom Jesus visited. While Sabrina knows the value of being still before the Lord, of breathing His presence in and finding joy, rest, and peace there, I’m much more like Martha, moving and grooving and constantly trying to find ways to work and serve. But Jesus lovingly rebuked Martha, telling her to not be worried about the extraneous things on her plate, but rather, to be like Mary and find rest in His presence.
By God's grace, I'm learning how to rest. With His help, I am learning to surrender my post-it notes, my "To Do" lists, my agenda, my plans, and even my pride-filled efficiency. I am learning to just rest in His presence, to be refreshed, to be restored, to be still. It is a process, for sure, but I am thankful that my God is faithful and patient with me, and that He who started a good work in my life will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).
Hebrews 4:9-11: "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall…"
