How many times have you tried to do it all, fix it all, or be it all? Cue the heavy sigh and eye roll! If you’re like me, your answer is ALL. THE. TIME.
Don’t you end up exhausted and frustrated? This happened to me recently. Who am I kidding? It seems to happen to me on a repeating cycle. You would think I would learn, but it seems to be in our nature as women to try to fix and do all the things. But God doesn’t want us to do that. In fact, He wants us to rest and let Him handle things. He actually is enough.
I have to be honest: I try my best to rest, and I will continue to get better at it, but usually, I find myself saying, “Okay, yes, God, but look over here!” “That’s not how it should be!” “I’ve got to go work on that!” “I’ve got to take steps to control that situation.” And He says, “Stop. Rest. Look at me.”
I do look at Him for a minute, and then again I say, “God, God, GOD! Do you see that over there? Do you see how bad that is? Do you see what might happen if I don’t go do something about that?” Then off I go to work on it in my own strength. All the while, He beckons, “Stop. Rest. Look at me. You’re expending too much energy trying to fix things I never asked you to fix. This energy isn’t needed.”
I keep saying, “But God, don’t you see?” He replies, “I SEE ALL OF IT, but DO YOU SEE?”
Mmmmm. He says, “No, all you see is what it lacks. All you see are the what-ifs. I’m asking you to stop and rest and just look at me. Trust me.”
I recently came upon this scripture that spoke volumes to me: Isaiah 30:15 — “In repentance and rest is your salvation. In quietness and trust is your strength. But you would have none of it.” Ouch. I totally relate to that scripture at times.
I’ve been teaching my daughter lately to push past her feelings and find the truth in all scenarios. It’s funny; as I teach her things, I’m also relearning some of them myself. Ironic how that works. So what’s the truth in this situation? Here it is:
Trust is worship. Rest is warfare. The highest level of warfare.
Wow! Who knew that when I’m resting, I’m doing my highest form of fighting? That’s because I’ve surrendered, and I’m letting Him do His work.
Don’t you know His work is ALWAYS best? When I rest, this scripture comes to life in our lives: Zechariah 4:6 — “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord.”
See, if we are resting in Him and trusting Him, we are letting His Spirit lead us. And if the Spirit is leading us, it’s always the best way!
Lord, forgive us for the times we have tried to be it all, do it all, and fix it all. You never intended that for our lives, and we end up frustrated and stressed. Teach us the path to rest and help us learn to be more Spirit-led each day of our lives.