Good and Tired

I stood amongst the crowd looking upon an eclectic collage of faces in animated conversation. Dotted through the crowd were some who appeared forlorn as they tried to keep their eyes open with hands tucked underneath chins, and others who were taking full advantage of the available vertical seating with complete ease, catching a few moments to rest.

It was a collection of pastors all coming together to worship and swap words of wisdom as they prepare to step into new seasons with their respective congregations. Pressing into the Holy Spirit and out pouring to one another was taking an evident toll upon their souls, yet their spirits appeared to soar while gathering for spiritual growth and the very name of Jesus.

Completing the work of the Holy Spirit has an ability to cause an exhaustion unrivalled to any other. Our emotions begin to blend and every part of our very being is invested in the Spirit’s works. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually we cyclone until the moment of depletion. In the words of one pastor, “I’m out of words.”

Perhaps it is because of this very depletion- the moment our human frailty succumbs to the overwhelming truth of His presence- that God gives us a most simple of commands:

Psalm 46:10, He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

In the Gospels of Mark, Luke, and Matthew, we find Jesus Himself succumbing to the fragile nature of His human form. He was curled up on a cushion snoring away in the corner of a boat. But Jesus didn’t fall asleep in the middle of one of His sermons nor do we find Him slacking when there was work needed to be done. In fact, he had just come from a long day of preaching to a large crowd many life changing truths. When He finally departed from the crowd with His disciples, they left on boats to cross the water to the other side. It was during these quiet moments He laid in a much deserved slumber.

Though we are to be busy seeking the Holy Spirit with everything we’ve got in order to move forward and claim our now moment, there still remains the scriptural truth that rest is as important an element as any. Not sleeping in our sin and missing the moment, but resting in His presence knowing we’ve seized the moment. It is during these moments of rest that we are able to be still knowing that all plans are within His timing and sovereignty and all good works require a time of recuperation.

Father, give me the rest I surely need for your Spirit has been hard at work within me. In Jesus name, amen.

 

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