Return To Your Rest

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29

What does is feel like when it is well with your soul? The question was asked as Olivia was sleeping in my arms. Sleep. That is something that I feel like I need more of these days. Olivia is usually a pretty good sleeper, but this week she must have been going through a growth spurt because she has been up a lot at night to nurse. And that has made me tired. The other day I was on a call with a co-worker and when we finished she asked to speak to someone else. So, I put the phone on hold, but never told the other person to pick up the phone. Imagine my surprise when she came out of her office, but the phone was still on hold! Then later that day, I drove right past the exit (and right into the no exit zone) I needed to get off to get the littles from daycare. When I am tired I don’t think straight. I feel weak, and like in a moment I will stumble… or drive right past the exit I am supposed to get off.

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31

Weary and weak. Anxious. Like you will stumble in an instant. Like you are walking on the edge of a cliff and if a breeze comes your way you will be blown off into the pit of darkness. Has your soul ever felt like that? Does it feel like that now?

In the beginning of Isaiah chapter 40, God calls Isaiah to share a message with His people that they would later need while they were in exile. I love this about God. I love that He doesn’t send His people into darkness without Hope. The message that Isaiah shares is that those who would wait on Him (other translations say hope, or trust) even while in exile will be comforted, have renewed strength, and fly on wings like eagles. Have you ever watched an eagle fly? If you ever notice, it doesn’t take much effort on the eagle’s part. A few gentle flaps of their wings here and there, and they soar! His promise is that it is when we trust in Him, put our hope in Him, and wait on Him that we soar and that is when it is well with our souls.

Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
Psalm 116:17

So what does it feel when you are soaring on wings like eagles? What does it feel like when all is well with your soul? I was watching my daughter sleep in my arms as I heard this question. She looked so calm and peaceful. And that was my answer. It feels like rest. That is how it feels when all is well with your soul. Calm. Peaceful. Rest. I remember when my son, Charlie, first started sleeping through the night. I felt like a new person. Sleep felt good, rest felt refreshing, and I felt more capable and strengthened to take on the day. I remembered as Olivia was laying in my arms that morning why babies sleep so much, and what happens when they sleep. They grow. Just like babies grow when they are resting, we grow when we are at rest in the Lord.