Rest, Reflect, Restore

My last day of employment was Wednesday, May 12. Not because of corporate downsizing or a shrinking economy…by choice…and not because of laziness or a lack of ambition…by the Lord’s guidance. Through much prayer and asking: Is this really the best course of action for me at this time? Will this ultimately bring glory and honor to God? Will this bring me closer in my walk with Him? I received confirmation after confirmation that this was the choice I should make. God’s word illuminated to me, the wise counsel of others He has placed in my life, the unrest and uneasiness in continuing the path I was on…all led me to conclude that yes, this was what I was to do. During my final two weeks of work, I was blessed with encouragement and direction for the next step. No, I don’t have a job waiting in the wings, in fact I don’t even know when or what my next role will be. My current assignment is rest, reflection and restoration.

Come away to a quiet place and rest. - Mark 6:31

This time of rest doesn’t mean I will be doing “nothing”. It is a time for praying, thinking, listening, regrouping, refocusing and re-charting my course.

Our society thrives on noise, hurry, crowds, muchness and manyness. Yet Jesus promises to give us rest. (see Matthew 11:28) During this rest, I will reflect on where I’ve been and what God has done in me, through me and for me.

Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever. - Psalm 48:12-14

The Lord has blessed me with time and opportunity to rest, to come away from obligations and over commitments, to return to a quiet place with the One who gives blessings and teaches lessons and who has wooed me unto Himself since I was a child. I want to reflect on His mercy and steadfast love, His provision and deliverance and healing, and His faithfulness to me. I desire this time of respite to be not solely for my own benefit, but so that I may say to others, “come and see what God has done” (see Psalm 66:5)

I have been weary and weak, beat down by school assignments and work days filled with hours upon hours of desk-time staring at a computer screen, something many people enjoy, but I truly believe I was not created to do. My Lord in His great mercy and love has heard my prayer for rest and has given me time to reflect and for Him to restore.

You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it, the river of God is full of water, you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrow abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty, your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy. - Psalm 65:9-13