How could this paragraph not stand out to me this morning?28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
I often find it easy to complain. Easy to complain about the state of Christianity today, the state of the local church and the state of my life. Underneath the criticism lies an honest exhaustion though. I have been a Christian for 30 years, so I should be hitting my prime with this following-Jesus-thing, right? Instead, when it comes to faith, I am more often tired and worn out than I am refreshed and rejuvenated. I find myself longing to get away - not always to get away with Jesus, but to just get away. I need Jesus to show me how to recover my life, how to take a real rest. I need to learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I want a faith that fits me correctly and isn't so heavy. I want to live freely and lightly.
Is this kind of life possible? Are you experiencing it? There are moments and seasons where I live in this. Everything seems to work. I'm not talking about everything being good because some of these times have included difficulties in my life of some sort - sick friend, death of a family member, loss of a job, etc.. It's easy to mistake unforced rhythms of grace for prosperity. The bible talks about us sharing in the fellowship of Christ's sufferings - not sure about you, but I don't like suffering and fellowship together. When it's all working the way God intended, it's good. When it's not, I find that it's an issue with me - with my view, with my position or with my expectation.
What is it that is good? For me it's good when I find myself wanting to talk to Father. It's good when I find myself satisfied by His Word. It's good when I see Father working in little things around me, like in the grocery store or at the park. It's good when I experience the presence of Christ in the midst of difficult days. It's good when I rest in His provision for my life instead of longing for more. It's good.
What about you? Have you ever experienced these unforced rhythms of grace? When is it good for you?
7:04AM? Really? Joking aside, I have often come across the same passage and felt a longing for the rest it talks of. But have to admit that I'm usually desiring a selfish rest (no chores, work, other commitments, Cubs on tv, NCAA Tourney, etc) versus the rest God is offering. Though I desire time with Him I find ways to justify avoiding it and do my own thing. Today the words cut a little deeper- it wasn't about getting time away it was about being with Him, "walk and work with me- watch how I do it." It isn't passive, it's not veg infront of the tv rest, He calls us to journey with him not just watch. What does that mean? Not sure today but know He'll show it to me in his time.
ReplyDeleteGee cubsfan, go ahead and read my mail. I know what you mean. I often come home and want to "decompress," thinking that will help me to rest, but it just creates lethargy in me. When I do rest in him, I find that I am on a journey that is filled with peace instead of worry, release instead of tension, hope instead of doom. I think resting in him is definitely active and involves a relationship that goes beyond "not doing things." What things have you found that help you "walk and work with" him?
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