Rest – Part 2: We’re On A Need-To-Know Basis

The Topic Room: REST – Part 2: WE’RE ON A NEED-TO-KNOW BASIS

Have you asked God how He feels today? It may be a strange question but bear with me for a minute.

In my last post, I wrote about the importance of allowing ourselves to experience the joy and freedom of trusting in God completely. (You can read the post here). The post garnered a particular reaction from a dear friend who stated, “It’s easier said than done, but it’s indeed possible to rest in God.” As she rightly pointed out, though it is possible to rest in God, it can be difficult, especially if you are in the throes of seemingly insurmountable pain or anxiety. There are many ways we can learn to trust God, but I would like to share the way I have worked to position myself to find rest in my Lord.

In 2013, my father was ill and passed away in December of that year. I was about eight months pregnant at the time and needless to say, it was an extremely emotional time for me and my family. His passing brought a beautiful father/daughter relationship to an abrupt end. Growing up, I all but worshipped my father. He wasn’t perfect, he had his personal challenges, but he was one of the few people who understood me. My father had the ability to instantly put me at ease with just one word of reassurance or the soft cup of his palm on my hand. I had peace of mind when he was around. And even though I can no longer see him, he left me with a blueprint of a beautiful relationship between a father and his child.

My journey to find rest in the Lord hinges on my efforts to build an authentic relationship with Him. (Like the one I had with my dad). And God has done His part:

Roman 5 v 8 – “But God demonstrated His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Roman 8 v 15 – “For we have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’”

‘Abba Father’ is a term used in the Bible to describe an affinity with God which we can now enjoy, through Christ Jesus. It’s a term that connotes intimacy and trust. But if we’re honest with ourselves, we often find ourselves trusting our spouses, parents, and wealthy relatives more than we trust God. Why? Because we’ve had time to build a relationship with them.

Trust is not something that is conjured out of an abyss, it is born out of a relationship. And it takes time and effort for a relationship to flourish. Spending time in prayer, losing ourselves in worship, and meditating on God’s word are activities that will help us forge an unshakeable bond with the Lord. Prayer fosters communication with our Father. Worship reminds us of who He is, and meditating on His word will allow us to fill ourselves with the very substance of who God is – His word!

A beautiful thing happens when we actively work to build a relationship with God; we begin to crave His presence. We find ourselves hearing Him clearly. We will even find ourselves caring about what He cares about. And it doesn’t stop there; we start to care about how He feels! We become concerned about what hurts Him and what gives Him pain, the same way He is concerned about us. We start to wonder what would make Him smile, the same way He wants us to have joy! And as time goes by we will start to see a framework in which trust will grow and thrive. And where there is trust, there is peace of mind, and where there is peace of mind…there is rest.

At the beginning of this post, I asked if you had asked God how He feels today. It may be an odd question but when you start asking such questions, you automatically present yourself as God’s child, and not as a mere acquaintance. Strangers are there to serve themselves, but it is a child (born out of a relationship), that genuinely cares about her Father.

So, when I find myself getting anxious over one issue or another, trading my peace in Him for the anxiety in the world, I promptly ask myself. “Lord, how are You feeling today?” This little question reminds me that in the midst of the pain and chaos, there is a beautiful relationship that I can fully rely on. A relationship that provides love, protection, and yes…rest.

Live TKL (The Kiniun Life)

 

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