On Stillness...

Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved.

I started writing this in June; and I thought to send it out now.

I think that this season has been a busy one for me that I’ve missed the art of stillness. I saw a video a few days ago where some ladies talked about the fact that everyone wants to be busy these days. We want to look busy, feel busy, act busy, and feel like we’re always up to something. We don’t want to be caught looking like we’re not on some project or have something up our sleeves. I don’t know if you’re like me but it feels like I’m not doing anything important when I’m not busy. It also feels like my life isn’t amounting to anything. And if you’re like me, you want your life to count for something while you are on earth. Feels like workaholic mode right?

I tried to stay still a while ago and just do nothing but for some reason, it felt like my mind was in a constant whirlwind and I couldn’t just stop. I was constantly thinking of something and I was constantly being drawn to something I hadn’t done. I couldn’t just be, rest and wait, doing nothing but staying idle.

It was so bad that it affected my quiet time. I'd get so caught up on some days and skipped it or I'd do a quick prayer and brush through a chapter or two of the Bible so my conscience would take note that at least I made an effort and it'd stop bugging me but that wasn't enough to take away the rowdiness in my head. I was always thinking about an undone task that I had probably procrastinated on, people I hadn't reached out to that I needed to reach out to immediately, the money that hadn't entered my account with bills staring at me in the face, my health that was gradually taking a toll on me and what not.

I got drained and became more anxious than ever. It was such an exhaustive phase and if anyone ever asked me how I was, my answer was simple... "I'm tired!!!" And when you ask me where this exhaustion is coming from, all I can say is, "I just have so much to do in such a short time and things are just coming together all at once".

Then I fell sick. Yeah, there wasn’t any deep spiritual encounter lol. I fell sick. I knew God laid so much in my heart to do but I was operating from a place of self-fulfillment forgetting the one who sent me. The things he told me to do weren’t supposed to be accomplished by my strength. They were supposed to be on his terms, in his way relying on his strength in my weakness. It was a struggle before but now, I am learning to rest in him. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. It still is and I'm basking in the rest He gives.

'This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. '

Isaiah 30:15

This verse hit hard when I heard it and realised that I had just been surrounded by noise and hadn't given myself space to breathe. Yes, I should work because I have been given an assignment, but I had to remember that I'm not immortal. Resting brings you to a place of undoing and when it’s with God, it's an acknowledgement that you have no power of your own. He's your source and we must always return to be renewed in that light. Not resting is a sign of confidence in your abilities and guess what? It will fail you! This world has enough things to make you drained and weak to your bones but in Jesus, you find rest.

Sometimes, we need to shut out the noise, be still before Him and know that He is God because it's only they who know their God that will be strong and do exploits. Scripture made that clear and that's the math!

More than ever before, I hope you find rest and comfort in these words and most importantly, in God. So return and draw from the well.