For he has said to them,
“This is your rest, so let the weary rest;
this is your comfort”—but they would not listen. Isaiah 28:12 TPT
Today’s verse is taken from Isaiah 28, that is addressing the pride, arrogance, independence and the selfish indulgences of the majority of the Isrealites. God was trying to tell them what was best for them and to do the things that would make there lives so much better. That relying on Him would be so much easier than trying to make things happen on their own in their humaness. But they just wouldn’t listen. They wouldn’t even admit that God Himself rested!
This past week the entire passage spoke to me. But I listened and you know what it worked! Last Thrusday evening I was cleaning. I was almost finished and was standing in my kitchen when one of the dogs did something and I turned a bit to fast to look at him, and then it happened. It was a stabbing pain from my shoulder, to my elbow to my thumb on my left hand. It was so intenese it took my breath away. I thought I could shake it off, but it became worse. My mind went to rotator cuff, but I could make my chicken wings and lift my arm, well, at least to the side. Trying to lift it to the front was mission impossible. So I took some asprin and went to bed, slept all night and woke up feeling good, until I went to get a dish out of the cupboard, and the same pain shot in. I could trace it, and then I thought, I have sciatica of the arm!
One thing I learned about a pinched nerve, it needs rest and muscle relaxation and that’s exactly what I decided I would do. I learned from experience it was something you can’t rush, you ice it, sit in a whirlpool, do stretching exercises and rest it. Considering I favor my left hand, I decided to listen to Holy Spirit who reminded me I need this time to slow down and not just for my arm.
I have been moving through life at breakneck speed, it seems like I get one issue done and another unexpected one shows up and there seemed to be no let up in sight in any area of my life. I kept saying I miss my time with God, but there always seemed to be something more important to do. So I cancelled appointments and Zoom calls and took those times to keep much needed appointments with Abba. I can’t tell you how beneficial this time has been, to just sit and listen for awhile. My arm is doing much better and I continue to do my icing, whirlpooling and stretching. But more importantly my relationship with my Loving Abba Father has grown and developed. I didn’t realize how complacent and dull of hearing His voice I had become. I’ve been sleeping better and feeling better emotionally, physically and spiritually.
If you’re like me and think without you the world will stop, I can guarantee it won’t. Actually you might just enjoy life and others in it a bit more once you don’t have to control it! So if you’re feeling weary, tired and are in need of some comfort, then slow down, take time to spend in the presence of the One who makes all things new.
Leave a Reply