This week I would like to share something written by Steve Harrison for Bethany Urban Development:
THE REST THAT REVIVES
One of the biggest challenges I face, as a treatment center chaplain, is to convince clients to slow down and listen. Upon arrival, they are often uptight and anxious. I have to remind them God's pace is probably slower than theirs. To be led by God, they will have to decelerate and get into His rhythm.
Years ago, I remember hearing a call for the Church to wake up and get going. We discovered the Bride of Christ had fallen asleep and was unaware of the danger she was facing. Recently, I have sensed another call - to slow down and find rest in Him. Today, many good Christians are struggling with anxiety. It seems we have never faced so many sources of stress and uncertainty. Ironically, Jesus prophesied this would happen before His return (see Luke 21:25-26). Overcoming this condition is one of the greatest challenges we will face in the Last Days.
According to the Bible, we need to rest - not just physically but spiritually. Rest is an increase in trust more than a decrease in labor. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt 11:28-29 emphasis mine).
I believe there are several voices echoing this call. I love the way Richard J. Foster puts it:"God has graciously allowed me to catch a glimpse into his heart, and I want to share with you what I have seen. Today the heart of God is an open wound of love. He aches over our distance and preoccupation. He mourns that we do not draw near to him. He grieves that we have forgotten him. He weeps over our obsession with muchness and manyness. He longs for our presence. And he is inviting you - and me - to come home, to come home to where we belong, to come home to that for which we were created. His arms are stretched out wide to receive us. His heart is enlarged to take us in. For too long we have been in a far country: a country of noise and hurry and crowds, a country of climb and push and shove, a country of frustration and fear and intimidation. And he welcomes us home: home to serenity and peace and joy, home to friendship and fellowship and openness, home to intimacy and acceptance and affirmation."
To obtain this level of intimacy and rest, we need to come under His roof rather than He comes under ours. This will make it easier to limit our exposure to stressful news and activities, ceasing wrong and questionable activities, getting daily into His Word, and getting alone with Him.
This sweet communion will give us the strength to face an anxious world. The measure of our resiliency is the depth of our intimacy. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
