“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me . . find rest for your soul.” Matthew 11:29 NIV
“Silence and solitude are sorely lacking, and everyday lives are the poorer for that.”
My thoughts today are about “time for the soul.”
Sometimes life can be tiring; hard work and long hours leave you physically weary. Some nourishment and a good night’s rest can refresh and renew that kind of tiredness. But there’s weariness well beyond that. Too much stress for too long can leave you feeling drained emotionally. Too much uncertainty and anxiety can exhaust you mentally. It’s not as simple as a good night’s rest but you can recover from those as well, though it might take you longer and require some measure of relief from the stress and worry.
The growing pace of overly filled schedules and the rising volume of living in a culture of crowds bring a tiredness not easily described; it’s more like a fatigue of heart and spirit. It’s not superficial; it is spiritual. Silence and solitude are sorely lacking, and everyday lives are the poorer for that. The Bible defined the problem long ago. It is not exclusively a 21st century difficulty, “Only in returning to Me and waiting for Me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:17 NLT. See also Mark 6:31-32 NIV.
There is a principle of Sabbath rest taught in Scripture that is about much more than one day a week. Read Hebrews 4:9-11 NLT. It is a spiritual lifestyle of reserving time for replenishing one’s soul through reflection, rest, and recreation, in the place of worry and work. In my backyard is a hammock. I don’t know how it happens – and I confess to not doing so often enough – but relaxing in the slow swing of that hammock changes the weight and hurry of daily life. Your spiritual life regularly needs a metaphorical hammock set in the shade with cool, gentle breezes that clear the mind and clean the soul.
The Bible refers to times when, “Though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV. Does that describe how you need to live? Chosen to live? There is only one place where you will find what your soul wants and lacks. See Isaiah 32:17-18 NIV. Jesus’ invitation is still true today, and true for you; it’s one of the whosoevers Jesus offers with no expiration date, or limit per customer.
“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 and you will find rest for your soul. For My yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT. There is only One who offers to teach you how to live well. I guess I still have a lot to learn, but I know Who can best teach me. Think I may take some hammock time for my soul today.
My prayer for you today is that you enjoy an inner peace and quiet rest.