Just Rest Your Eyes
For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” ( Isaiah 30:15)
Bedtime in my house has always been a challenging time. I wish I had a quarter for every time I said, “You don’t have to go to sleep. Just rest your eyes.” My older child would go just as fast as he could and make as much noise as possible to avoid having to go to sleep. We would have “be-still-a-thons”. The winner was the one who could be still and quiet the longest. My younger child was very quiet in school but saved up all his words until bedtime when he let loose. One night he said, “Mama, I can’t go to sleep.” I said, “That’s because your eyes are open and your mouth is moving.” He closed his eyes and said, “Hmm Hmm Hmmmm, Hmm Hmm.” Even the dog doesn’t like bedtime. He stays home with my husband all day and they nap so when I get home he is rested and ready to go. The other night he would wait until I got still and then moan, bark or paw at me. Finally my husband took him into the man cave and closed the bedroom door. After a little bit we let him back in. He acted like he was going to be quiet and then started woofing. My husband started to pick him up and take him out again and in a flash he jumped up next to my shoulder and gave us an innocent look. People wonder why I look tired.
The truth is I am tired in more ways than just physical. I carry emotional and spiritual burdens that are not necessary. I know that the word says, “Cast your cares on Him for He cares for you. (1 Pet 5:7)” I know, but I was raised with the belief that I should “Pray like everything depends on God and then work like everything depends on you.” The other day God showed me an image. I was on an escalator and even though it was going, I was running as fast as I could to get to the top. That is a very accurate description of how I operate. I pray that God will meet a need and then search high and low for a local resource that will meet it. I stay up trying to come up with alternate solutions, alternating with the serenity prayer.
When I looked up scriptures on rest, I found 766. Apparently God is serious about resting in him. The first references are about God resting on the 7th day and remembering the Sabbath. I won’t share all 766 but here are few of the ones that spoke to me.
Isaiah 30:15 For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Jeremiah 31:25 For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.
Exodus 14:14
The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still.”
I believe that lack of rest, whether physical, emotional or spiritual is a huge problem for many of us. There are so many concerns right now. I encourage you to do your own search for scriptures about rest and peace and feed your soul with them this week.
