She sat playing with her dollhouse, totally unaware I was watching and listening. Her voice was animated as she spoke to her dolls, moving them through actions familiar to us as we do them everyday. It was then she said gently to the doll ….

“What do you mean you don’t want to do it?

You are a big girl now, you can do it.”

A rush of emotions flooded me as I watched her three year old self take on the role of speaking like the mother. It was then I realized she fully understood what was expected of her but often refused to do.

Very gently, the soft voice of the Holy Spirit began to remind me ….

“God has told his people, “Here is a place of quiet rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest.” But they would not listen.” (Isaiah 28:12, NLT)

God speaks into our lives through His Word, our circumstances, and others to give us direction. We often don’t listen. We know we should. We know what it is we are to do. But we continue to do things our own way because we just won’t listen. In His graciousness, God points our problem out to us several times more …

• “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.” (Isaiah 30:15, NLT)
• “This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, “No, that’s not the road we want!” (Jeremiah 6:16, NLT)

See what I mean? We don’t listen. We continue to go our own way.

We are living in a world that is spinning so quickly we cannot keep up. New technology and advertisers beckon us to stay on the cutting edge and in so doing, we are the ones being cut up into pieces.

Our lives are becoming fragments, little pieces of purpose instead of being full of the purpose He has for us.

And we’re tired, worn out, and emptied of energy. So what are we to do this time of year as we are being beckoned to go, and do, yet even more?

Instead of our frantic pace, our rescue lies in returning to Him and the pace He has set for us. As we let Him teach us to rest, we will grow in our knowledge of Christ and in our purpose. And it is there we will find rest.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29, NLT)

 

Today I am joining … Playdates With God and Sharing His Beauty and #WordsWithWinter and Inspire Me Monday and #SmallWonder .