Lean on Him

Psalm 37:7a  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:

Who here loves bedtime?  I absolutely adore bedtime…I think that may be a sign of aging, but I can’t help it.  The thought of getting all cozy and warm underneath the covers and just resting….ahh…rest.  I found two definitions for ‘rest’. The first, from wikipedia, is to cease movement or work in order to be refreshed or recover strength and the second is, be placed or supported so as to stay in a specified position.  I think when we think of rest our minds usually jump towards the first definition.  However, when I think of resting in the Lord, my mind jumps towards the second.  Wikipedia uses the example of ‘her elbow was resting on the chair arm’.  In other words, the chair arm was holding her elbow in place.  It was supporting the weight of her elbow.  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him…He will hold you in place.  Put your weight, your burden on God and He will support the weight of it.  The first definition of rest is also applicable though because when we stop attempting to work for our peace and instead rest in God’s peace, He will refresh our spirit and give us renewed strength to carry on living for Him.  I think that’s absolutely beautiful.  Our rest in the LORD not only recovers our strength, but it also supports our weakness.  But to rest in Him, we must be willing to wait patiently for him.  He won’t always do things just as we would or when we would.  He may not clear up the storm immediately.  He may not bring physical healing right now.  We may have to face some stuff, some hard stuff, maybe for a long time.  God has not left us in those times.  He will never leave his children unaided.  He is there to bear the weight of our suffering and give us strength to persevere as we wait patiently for him.  So silence your anxiety and speak not of your worry, just trust He is faithful.

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