01/22/2022
As we serve the Lord we occasionally need to take a moment to be still, and collect our thoughts. We need to withdraw to a quiet place and wait patiently for Him to refresh us. From the silence of a mountain cave, we need to listen for our Father to speak. Sometimes we walk away to this place, but more often than not He drives us into the quiet of evening like a shepherd moving reluctant sheep to a safe pasture for the night… this is where the shepherd sings, talks, and plays His lyre for his flock. This is where God speaks quietly to us.
“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.”
Matthew 14:13 ESV
Jesus withdrew from the crowds to pray, but He also did so merely to escape, rest, and refresh Himself for what lay ahead. We need those same periods of silence, and they are a part of God’s plan for us. We tend to resist them because we are reluctant to separate ourselves from what God has called us to do, and feel that we are neglecting our faith, but these times do quite the opposite, they add emphasis to what God is doing with us… There is anticipation associated with the waiting, and our desire for Him builds with each passing second.
““Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!””
Psalm 46:10 ESV
I was reading a devotional message this morning, and the author spoke of “musical rests”. There are moments in music in which we hear absolute silence, and are inclined to think that the song has ended, but nothing could be further from the truth. “Musical rests” are a part of the song. They add emotion, mystery, build a longing to know what comes next, or cause us to reflect on the melody that has come before. They are deliberate, and like an exclamation point at the end of a sentence, can add emphasis. Most of all, they have an end, and that end is not random, but in perfect timing with the rest of the song. During the “rest” the musicians are silently counting the beats until, in perfect time and coordination they begin to play once more… and the listener’s emotion is rewarded by their effort. This is true in our quiet times of faith when the Lord hushes us, and we pause as He counts in perfect time before directing us to begin anew.
“God does not write the music of our lives without a plan. Our part is to learn the tune and not be discouraged during the rests. They are not to be slurred over or omitted, nor used to destroy the melody, or to change the key. If we will only look up, God Himself will count the time for us.” - L.B. Cowman
Our faith is increased in the quiet moments, the pauses, and when we return to the fullness of our calling it is with renewed emotion, and energy. Men of faith have long known to withdraw to quiet places to receive a Word from God, or to seek solitude when they need to experience His rest, and the peace of being still. They do this to gain new insights, and to tend to their faith, but sometimes they, like ourselves, just need to be healed.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29 ESV
One of my favorite paintings is of Jesus in which He is carrying a lamb around His neck. It is such a quiet painting, and one in which we feel many emotions. Those who are worn down by life see Him as giving them rest, and those who are suffering see Him carrying them through their troubles, but no matter our perspective it is serene, quiet, and the emotion in it builds up our faith. This is what we are meant to receive from the “spiritual rests” in life… rest, healing, insight, and a loving increase in our relationship with God, and Jesus Christ. When we are busy with the details of life it is hard to give God our full and undivided attention, and when we are sick with fever, or suffering in some way, it is difficult to see Him as anything but a healer, but if we go into the wilderness, or up onto the mountain where it is still, it helps us in our quest to know God, and this is what we have read earlier in Psalm 46:10… “Be still and know that I am God.”
When was the last time we went away to a quiet place to be with the Lord? Some of us may never have done this before, but like the “musical rest”, a “spiritual rest” can add much to our relationship with God. Those brief few hours, days, or weeks of silence, can build us up, give us peace with what has already occurred, and prepare us for what is yet to come.
“Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.”
Exodus 24:15-16 ESV
We are not talking about a church retreat, or church camp here, although they have their value, but of going to the mountain, or away to some silent place alone. Have we ever spent time by ourselves in the presence of God, or in prayer as we waited on Him? Everyone needs time in a cave like Elijah. We all need to stand on a mountain, in the mouth of a cave, and hear the voice of God.
“And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””
1 Kings 19:8-9 ESV
Are we ready to be still? Are we ready to meet God stop the mountain?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the quiet times we spend with you. Thank you for driving us towards the peaceful pastures where the grass is lush, and the water plentiful. Thank you for allowing us to be in your intimate presence there, and to hear your voice clearly. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who calms the water, stills the wind, and gives us peace and rest in your presence. Praised be your name for every “spiritual rest” in which we meet you, and our faith grows. Merciful are you who, in the midst of our suffering, leads us to a silent place of comfort. Great are you who gives us strength, even when we are still and at rest. Give us pause Father, and in those moments of ease, hear our prayers. Let your voice encourage us and prepare us for what lies ahead as we obey you. Wash us in the blood of your Son Jesus who taught us the value of the mountains, wilderness, and other quiet places where we would find you. See His image when you look into our faces, and welcome us as your children into your eternal presence… singing, chanting, praising, and silently worshiping you in the midst of our times of “spiritual rest”.
Rich Forbes