You mean I can relax?

Sitting on the deck in the cool morning air of a quiet Pacific Northwest morning, I hear a light tapping on the inside window and turn to see our youngest and her 6-month old peering out to say good morning.  That is to say, the 6-month old wanted to say good morning; mommy wanted a hand off and go back to bed for an hour or so.

Of course, for a first-time mother, it’s still kind of new, this hand off thing, even if it’s to her own mother who raised three children.  Immediately after the pass, mommy was still admonishing me to let her know right away if Sweet One starts crying because she might need to be fed, and oh, she might have pooped and need a diaper change, and….

Honey, go to bed.  Right now.  I’ve got this. 

 So while I was enjoying that grandmother thing, it occurs to me that this is exactly what my Father is telling me. 

Honey, relax.  Right now.  I’ve got this.

 Well, okay, that’s my paraphrase.  It actually goes like this:

“Be still, and know that I am God!”

(Please to note the exclamation point on the end…)  Here’s another similar one:

“The eternal God is your refuge,
    and his everlasting arms are under you.”

Life is exhausting.  It’s beautiful, like my granddaughter, but it’s exhausting.  It sometimes poops on you, frays your nerves, and causes sleepless nights (many, in fact).  There are strong Arms, however, just aching to hold and help, but these Arms will only wait to have the precious bundle of our lives placed there, willingly, and send us off to rest.

This rest doesn’t absolve me of responsibility, but it does release me from the “need” to worry. 

This kind of trust also releases my creativity to understand that God has things going on behind the scenes and options that I’m not aware of.  It reminds me that the positive eternal outcome of my situation(s) is not based on my ability to control the immediate particulars.  Plus, resting in His ability to carry me frees up more head and heart space to hear what my part in the program actually is.

In other words, true resting in God isn’t spiritual slovenliness, but active participation in a most effective way.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

 My version:

Honey, relax.  Right now.  I’ve got this.

Psalm 46:10; Deuteronomy 33:27; Matthew 11:28 Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.