Rest For Our Soles

Thoughts Along the Way©

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2

 
            We needed to go to Hawaii for meetings so we went a few days early to relax and have fun. Our flight left Tokyo around supper time and arrived in Honolulu in the morning of the same day. Fortunately we both were able to get some sleep on the plane but it certainly is not the same as sleeping in your own bed. We cleared customs, found the shuttle bus to the hotel and got checked in but since it was still early morning we were not able to get into our room. We had planned for that by having a change of clothes in our carry-on bags. Our original plan was to take a bus to Diamond Head Mountain, go hiking and climb to the top. The lady at the check in said it was not very far so the bus was not necessary. We could just walk from the hotel. Being jet lagged and sleep deprived, we believed her. We walked a good hour to get to the path where you start hiking up the mountain. By this time we are hot, sweaty, thirsty, and hot but determined, so we refilled our water bottles and off we went. What a pair we were – John had blisters and I was suffering from heat exhaustion. We made the top and even made the long walk back to the hotel. The next day we needed rest for our soles and legs so we swam in the ocean and walked bare foot on the beach.

            Just as we need rest for our soles after too much walking, we need rest for our souls. This is especially true after a season of intense activity. Elijah served the Lord, saw Him do great miracles (I Kings 18) and afterward collapsed to the point that he wished he had never been born (I Kings 19). My highs are not as high as Elijah’s were nor are my lows as low as his but I feel the same emotional, spiritual and physical drain as he did. Ministering to people is wonderful and very fulfilling but it can leave behind “blisters” and “exhaustion.” Spending 2-3 hours on the trains to meet a friend or pick someone up at the airport can leave me feeling like I have just climbed a mountain. The trip is worth the effort but it takes time to recover.

            God calls us to be refreshed by His Spirit on a daily basis but there are also times that we need to step back from the stresses and strains of life to find a special rest for our souls. This may mean sitting on a beach or just sitting on your deck with a glass of lemonade. It may mean a couple of days away from home or a couple of days without the phone and e-mail. Whatever it looks like for you, it is a time that God can minister to your deepest weariness, doubts, struggles, and complaints by filling you with His strength, faith, peace and contentment.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for seeking rest for my soul in all the wrong places. Teach me afresh to seek You the giver of true rest and contentment. Give me the strength I need for each day and the faith to see Your hand at work in the great things and the small things of life. Give me the wisdom to know when I need to step back and “sit on the beach” with You.