We spend far too much time absorbed in worrying about present struggles and future events in our lives. Even seniors who are well past the harvest time of their lives are not exempt from this. All of us should be resting in the peace that is God鈥檚 gift to us.
It starts with the Sabaoth rest, but it is more than that. When we partner with God and learn to trust in God, there is a real rest or a peace that is ours in our daily lives. Let God write our story and believe in that peace.
There is a Medieval folktale about the Holy Family鈥檚 escape into Egypt to avoid Herod鈥檚 plan to kill the baby Jesus. As the murderous band is pursuing them, Mary sees a farmer sowing seeds. She asks of him that if soldiers come looking for her and her family, he should tell them that he saw them pass by while he was sowing.
Immediately after the family departs, the startled farmer watches the freshly sown seeds sprout and grow tall. The soldiers arrive and ask if he saw a family pass by. He truthfully answers, 鈥淵es, when I first began to sow the seed.鈥� The soldiers, disgusted by the farmer鈥檚 seemingly foolish reply, go off in another direction.
In our life鈥檚 plan we sow and expect our careers to blossom. Impatiently we arealways looking forward to when this will happen, when that will be fulfilled. God鈥檚 time unfolds as a mystery. Like the seed that is sown underground.
鈥淎fter a seed is planted, the heat, moisture and pressure of the ground finally cause the outer hull to crack open. Then roots shoot down, digging their way through the ground. It takes time for this to happen, and it takes place underground. Above the ground, you can't tell anything is happening,鈥� says Joyce Meyer in 鈥淲hen God鈥檚 Timing Is Taking Too Long鈥�.
鈥淎re you tired of waiting for harvest time in your life?鈥� Meyers asks. 鈥淎re you frustrated, crying out, "When, God, when?鈥� She continues, 鈥淭rusting God brings life. Believingbrings rest,鈥� Meyers says. 鈥淪o stop trying to figure everything out, and let God be God in your life.鈥� God is never late.
In the harvest time of our lives we enjoy a certain fruition. Success, prosperity, honor, promotion - all good things come about. Then it seems we hear from God. We enjoy his presence and delight in the moment. How soon we leave that time of peace and rest with the spirit.
When gratitude should be our companion, we grow impatient for 鈥� what? More success, or wealth, or fame. Trusting God brings life. Believing brings rest. So stop trying to figure everything out, and let God be God in your life. Lean on God and give rest to the troubled spirit.
Through all of our lives we continue to be co-partners with God in our work. Whatever our endeavours, our job is not to figure out when, but to make up your mind that we won't give up until we cross the finish line and are living in the radical, outrageous blessings of God!
The more we trust Jesus and keep our eyes focused on Him, the more life we'll have. Trusting God brings life; believing brings rest. Let God be God.
