top of page

Resting with God

Jonathan Huddleston



In repentance and rest is your salvation,

in quietness and trust is your strength. --Isaiah 30:15


I've taken a three different overseas missions trips. They were times of service. They were times of learning. But they were also exhausting--mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically. I got sick. I spent a lot of time in bed. In a time of intentional prayer and focus on the Spirit, I learned to rest with God.


On the second trip, I made a joke out of it. We had times allotted to go on prayerwalks, exploring an unevangelized city, praying an looking for opportunities to share the gospel. But I found that much of my time was actually spent on a public bus, going from one place to another, looking out the window and seeing thousands of people who didn't know Jesus, praying for them and for the work we were beginning among them. I would doze off, still praying. I would wake up, still praying. I joked that I had invented a new spiritual discipline: prayer-napping.


Lately, recovering from a respiratory virus and enduring the coldest winter since moving "up north" to Pennsylvania, I've felt some of that same exhaustion. Sleepy. Groggy. And aware of God's presence, always with me, blessing me, calling me to be a blessing to others. Some days, I see the snow blowing and think, "it's time for some prayer-hibernation."


Sometimes we draw a closer to God by devoting time and effort to things like Bible reading, serving others, and prayer. Sometimes we draw closer to God by just resting in His presence. Jesus said, "Come to me, all who are weak and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Sometimes we draw closer to God by just resting in His presence.

In Isaiah 26:3 the prophet tells God, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Jesus could be a hard worker, but he was never afraid to take a nap. And he rested without being less spiritual, without being any less aware of the Father's presence with him. Jesus knew when to work with God--and when to rest with God.

I f you join us for worship (Sundays at 10 a.m.), I don't think we'll be taking naps; I try not to preach long enough to put people to sleep. But our time together can be refreshing, peaceful, a quiet refuge with the God we trust. God doesn't always ask us to do more, to work harder. God sometimes asks us to rest, and appreciate what the Spirit has already done for us.


--Jonathan

























10 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page