Category: rest

Like a River Glorious

Photo Copyright: www.godponderings.com

Some days I sense God calling me away to a peaceful place. A place without internet service, cellphone signal or traffic noise. A place with minimal human activity. A place where I can focus on the Word, and prayer, and writing – without distractions. One advantage of living in the boondocks is that such places are readily accessible.

A root beer-toned river twists its way around a low island dotted with sneezeweed, goldenrod, fleabane and wild asters. It gurgles as it rushes downhill, stumbling over rocks and bumping haphazardly into a downed tree before going on its merry way. The river’s voice settles my soul as it carries my cares away.

“Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace.”

Have you ever been in a situation where you discovered, by necessity, God’s perfect peace? Several years ago my cousin and his son were helping us remodel our house. They were truly God’s gift to us! Ben and I were coming home with a load of lumber when the trailer started swaying. At first, I wasn’t overly concerned. But when the trailer started pulling the truck all over the road, in traffic, I knew we were in trouble.

I should have panicked. I should have been terrified. Instead, an inexplicable, supernatural peace washed over me. Ben was doing everything in his power to get the situation under control. I remember putting my hand on his shoulder and saying, “You’re doing a great job!” Where did that come from? The only possible answer is the Sunday School answer: Jesus.

“Over all victorious in its bright increase.”

In the end, we did a 180 across both lanes of traffic and came to rest on the shoulder – unharmed. Praise God, no one else was harmed either. Surely, God’s angels were encamped around us! Kind drivers stopped and helped us pick up the lumber strewn across the road and we were on our way again, at a slower pace.

“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever. For in Yahweh, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” (Isaiah 26:3-4)

I lose sight of this promise, at times. My mind is on everything but my Peace-Giver. I’m preoccupied with finances and work and household duties and family. I hit the floor running in the morning without pausing to meditate on God and His marvelous works, without committing my daily concerns to my Lord. When I get frazzled and fretful, God reminds my I have neglected the One who gives perfect peace.

“Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day. Perfect, yet it growth deeper all the way.”

God’s peace is always perfect. It’s never lacking. But the more we put our trust in it, the more we experience it, the deeper and fuller it seems, like a river growing and deepening as it makes its way to the sea.

Whatever has you unsettled today, whatever is eating at you, whatever has you distracted or preoccupied, I pray you will rest in these words from Psalm 46:10;

“Cease striving and know that I am God.”

When you struggle, refocus on the only One who can bring you rest.

“Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest; Finding as He promised, perfect peace and rest.”

Jubilee

Today we plant our two small raised beds between cloud bursts. Usually I have plants in by now, but the cool and rainy spring delayed the season. We line up our plants and get started.

This year’s “garden” will be a breeze compared to those in years past. One year, in a moment of inexplicable insanity, we planted our entire fenced in area… about 340 square feet. Compared to the 1-acre garden my grandpa used to plant, it was relatively small. Compared to the average family garden today, it’s pretty big. 

By the end of that year I had picked, packed and pickled gallons of beans, pickles and peppers. I had chopped, blanched and frozen ample corn, beans, zucchini and broccoli. There were tomatoes in the freezer, and in jars, and on the window sill, and in salsa. And I’d given away enough vegetables to feed a small country. Even the stuff that was buggy, or spoiled, or frost-nipped didn’t go to waste. We had chickens. Chickens will eat almost anything.

            I think I suffered burn out! God provided three years’ worth of harvest last year, so I asked Pete if we could declare a year of Jubilee. He agreed. That was three years ago.

God remembers, though we sometimes forget, we do need rest from time to time. From creation, the Father has provided sunlight for a good day’s work. After a good day’s work (or night’s work, for those who work second or third shift) it’s good to rest.

God also set aside the Sabbath so we could rest, and rest in Him, one day each week. “Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work…”  (Exodus 20:8-10a) 

Then God ordained seasons of planting and harvest so field work would not be endless. And every 49 years, provision was made for His people, even the soil itself, to rest from toil. In the year of Jubilee the fields were left fallow. Better yet, debts were forgiven, slaves were freed and ancestral lands were returned to their rightful owners. No wonder it was also known as the year of liberty!

Our teeny tiny garden is planted in record time. I walk away with a jubilant bounce in my step, thinking of the other projects I’ll have time to work on because the garden will not be all-consuming. These three years of jubilee (yes, I know that’s a couple more than God set aside), of rest and liberty from hard labor, will renew my body… but not forever. Next year all our canned goods will be used up and it will be time to take on the big garden again.

God gives us brief bodily reprieves here on earth – and they’re good! The eternal rest and liberty our souls enjoy in Christ are oh-so-much better. Once we decide to follow Christ, we live a life of jubilee… freed from sin’s tyranny and welcomed to rest in Him. “Thus says the Lord, ‘Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.”  (Jeremiah 6:16)