Let Your Soul Rest

In our world, we don't know the meaning of rest. Our society has pushed rest to the side. We pile on our plates to the ceiling because a full life indicates that we are accomplished. A busy life shows the world we have it all together.

John Ortberg says it best in his book Soul Keeping that there's a difference between being busy and having a hurried soul. Being busy means you do a lot. You have a full schedule and many activities, but in the end busyness is an outward condition that is a reminder of how much you need God. But having a hurried soul means there is never an end to the doing. Being hurried means you are unable to be fully present and are often preoccupied. Hurriedness causes you to be unavailable to God, because God speaks to us in a still, small whisper. Don't believe me? Just ask Elijah.

"And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”" - 1 Kings 19:11-13

Lastly, having a hurried soul means you never experience true rest.

God knew what He was doing when He created us. He knows how we function. He knows that our souls desire rest. He created an entire day for it. But, like a lot of things, that day has been legalized and blown out of proportion. Resting doesn't necessarily mean vegging out on a couch or not using anything electric. Your soul desires rest in that it is constantly being attacked by the world, and you need a period of time to refill it. Resting could look different for anyone, but my soul is refilled most by reading or writing.

The American devotional author Lettie Cowman was visiting Africa one time, and touring around to different places. She had hired several guides and carriers and on their first day the group made a lot of progress, much to Lettie's satisfaction. On the second day, however, the group refused to move. Concerned and frustrated, Lettie asked the leader of those that she hired why they wouldn't continue on their journey. He told her that they had travelled to far too fast, and now they were waiting for their souls to catch up to their bodies. We have to rest every once in a while to let our souls catch up to our bodies. Where is your soul? Is it right beside you? Or is it years behind?