Quiet Time Away

Growing up in a world that tells us we have to keep moving, that success is only found in our ongoing striving towards better, makes being quiet not difficult, but impossible. There is one serious issue in this concept. More than likely a few came to mind for you. Set those ideas aside for a minute and consider that there is only one that matters in the grand scheme of things.

Life is designed by God. Our energies, our successes, our efforts. While each of these are achieved through our own personal work. And while we have the capacity to achieve them, they are not ours alone to claim. Each of these are gifted to us. Our intelligence, our strengths and our weaknesses are the footprint of God in our lives.

This leads us to that one issue mentioned; always reaching for the next great thing. We just keep moving. There is no silence or stillness.

That last statement is my least favorite. Not because I can’t be quiet (I can’t). Not because I am always striving for the next best thing (I am) But because I think it is a pat answer or statement made by leaders in the Christian faith. It isn’t a solution, it isn’t a recommendation, it’s just a statement that to be honest often leaves us feeling a bit guilty.

I’ve spent my whole life feeling guilty, the last place I want to experience it is in my safe space with my God. But that doesn’t diminish the truth in the statement. In many people’s lives there is no active silence. We fall asleep or get bored far too easily. Yes, I just put all of us, you and me, in a group. Unfair, maybe. True, most likely even if not 100%.

I also don’t like the statement because my natural tendency is towards self-improvement in every aspect of my life and this lacks the wisdom I need to do that. When truth is exposed to us even without reason or teaching we now become the ones responsible for understanding. If we let it go unused it is wasted. So, let’s do some digging into how to be actively quiet or silent.

For the sake of this blog, let’s say there are 2 types of people (laughable – right). However, let’s say that there is the person who easily sits still and is comfortably quiet. The other type of person is polar opposite of that behavior. Decide into which category you fall. If you sit still well and your mind doesn’t wander, great. If you don’t, be aware that you might need to give yourself a break or make a change every so many minutes of being quiet, so that you don’t become restless.

Now, focus on those individuals who are quiet with the Lord in the Bible. It isn’t the day of rest. It is a moment. Psalms 23 records a moment ‘beside still waters’, the ability to lie down in the lush beauty of the green grasses. David writes often of resting. Elijah becomes exhausted from constantly being battered by life and lies down in his despair hoping for death. It is here that God offers him rest and a refueling (1 Kings 19). Jesus specifically speaks about finding rest in a relationship with him (Matt. 11.28-29).

Pay close attention to how they rest. Simply put, physical rest occurs for them through food and sleep. More than that though they rest from daily responsibilities of work and chores.

One other defining action happens when they rest. They meet God. This is what Jesus is talking about. Finding rest in Jesus isn’t a metaphor, it is a promise. When we still ourselves, focus our full attention not just on the Lord as God, but on his being, the person, the existence, the purpose of the life of the Lord, rest will come through him in a physical way such as David, Elijah, Hagar and many others found.

There isn’t a time requirement unless God tells you there is. Prayer isn’t a mandate, being with God is. Place doesn’t matter unless the Holy Spirit presses upon you that it is. Rest is a requirement because without it we are useless to self, others, and most of all the Creator of our very essence.

If you needed steps review the blog, you’ll find them. When you do you might want to ask yourself if you need rest from the rules and restrictions that bind your spirit. Resting is an activity. It is defined by an action and therefore demands that we take part in it. Scheduling rest isn’t just a suggestion, it is a part of our responsibility as a human to all of creation. The value of it weighs with equivalency to work. So go put it on a calendar somewhere. Don’t excuse yourself or replace it with something else – part of your ‘pay’ depends on how you partake in it.

Happy resting my friend!

-blessings for the journey