Recently, it was time for me to take another rest weekend; I typically resist being still if I can help it. Ever since my accident, it has been hard for me to slow down. I spent almost a year either in the hospital or in rehab unable to do the things I enjoyed, especially during spring and summer time.
During that season of my life, I felt utterly helpless and just wanted God to hear my prayer when I cried out to Him on my knees. Part of my covenant with God was, if He gave me the ability to walk again, I would never take the simple pleasures of life for granted again and I would change my ways.
I have a fear of being paralyzed and not being able to take care of myself or make my own decisions. My mindset is to keep moving like I am at a dance club with my friends, although I haven’t been to a club in almost 30 years.
I cling to the motto, “A body in motion stays in motion.” I am not one of those people who feel I need to slow down because I am getting older: because I am not ready to. My accident taught me to use what you have before you lose it.
That is my motivation for staying in shape and living a healthy lifestyle. I try to use what I learned during my time in the hospital and going to rehab, and let God do the miracles. And that is why I also understand the need for us to be still and get rest. Lord, I am waiting for you. There are mental, physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits to being still at times in life. I know that is when God can guide my path.
ONE of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 46:10, not only does it remind us to be still, it is a reminder that God is God and we are not. God does not want us to run ourselves to death trying to be successful like the world that is fading.
True success and the real blessing are being right with God, not the world. Our Heavenly Father is loyal and promises to take care OF our needs and give us new hearts and desires (Psalm 51:10, Ezekiel 36:26.) His plan for us isn’t to make us slaves to this world are life.
Most of the Bible warns God’s people not to waste their lives chasing earthly success and pleasure (Proverbs 11:28, Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, Matthew 16:26.) The world busies itself chasing success and temporary things.
It is also possible for God’s people to make life harder than it should be, by being too busy doing God’s work (Luke 10:38-42.) Jesus comforted His followers by assuring them if they let go and fully trust Him, His yoke was easy. You’re gonna be okay, God is our frontline defense.
Another one of my favorite verses is Matthew 11:28-30. Because, when life cuts into us like a chainsaw, we don’t need to figure things out, just trust God to take care of us. He is faithful.
In Judaism, the “Yoke of Mitvot,” is the way of living the Jewish life according to the law of God. Jesus is reminding His followers that God’s ways are better than the ways of the world. Look upon the Lord, not man’s ways.
God understands our pain and suffering, He already knows what we need even before we ask (Psalm 38:9, Matthew 6:8.) The older I get, the more I realize we don’t have to figure things out, but we do have to trust that God has the answer and is working things out (Romans 8:28.)
This doesn’t mean life will always be easy for God’s people, it simply means that God is with us in the hard times and gives us a better hope than this world could ever offer us (Jeremiah 29:8-12.)
We are still foreigners and a fallen and corrupt world until God calls us home or returns and makes everything perfect again. God’s ways may not always make sense to us, but they are perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 18:30.)
God made a way. Even in the trials of life, God can give us perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3.) When tragedy and hardships strike, we don’t have to try and figure everything out, we must simply trust the good 18 Shepherd (Psalm 23:1-6.)
Although we live in a fallen world when you believe there’s no need to stress or worry about tomorrow like the loss. For we have a Good Shepherd and the Holy Spirit (John 10:1-18) and their yoke is easy!
