I love it when God gives me a download. It’s a
beautiful thing – a powerful visual image combined with crystal clear
understanding and the scriptures to back it up. Rare, but beautiful.
I received just such a download last Sunday. It
came during worship, during the chorus of a song. I don’t even remember the
song and it doesn’t even matter. The download came full and vivid and complete –
a seamless flow of my Father’s loving grace. I was exhausted to my core. The
download didn’t immediately fix that. I still went home and curled up in bed
with a good book. What the download did was strengthen me. It reminded me of
what He has done so that I may enter into God’s rest - that true deep
rest that refreshes and revives. He knew that I needed it. He knew what was coming
this week. Hard things. Heart-breaking things.
So, here’s the download:
Fighting battles wears you out.
I saw a warrior walking through the midst of a
raging battle. All around, fire light flashed off of armor and swords. Clashing
metal rang out amidst shouts and screams. Chaos surrounded the warrior on every
side, but she walked amidst stillness. The battle parted before her and enemies
fell to each side, leaving a wide berth as she passed through. She wasn’t
bloodied or beleaguered. She was pristine. Untouched. Most importantly, she
walked in victory. The battle still raged about her, but she walked through it
knowing – KNOWING – KNOWING –
that the battle was already won!
As I saw this vision, these words sprang from my
heart: A
thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
The fullness of Psalms 91 swept over me. Because He
is my refuge, no evil shall befall me. His angels have been given charge over
me.
Then came Exodus 14:14, The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Or, as
my favorite translation goes: GOD
BATTLES! Shh!
I felt myself reaching out to God, wondering if it
could really be that simple, and He answered me. My Father knows me so well,
that He knows exactly what to show me. Jesus. For me, Jesus is always the last
Word. I saw Jesus walking on the water, unmoved by the raging wind around Him.
Later, I looked up the story in Mark 6:
And
when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the
land. And he saw them toiling in rowing;
for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the
night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit,
and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he
talked with them, and saith unto them, “Be of good
cheer: it is I; be not afraid.” And he went up unto them into the ship; and
the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure,
and wondered.
Notice two things here:
- When the disciples were alone they were rowing against the wind, toiling and laboring and wearing themselves out; but when Jesus joined them, the wind ceased.
- Jesus would have passed by them, except that they cried out. When they did that, he spoke peace and comfort to them and joined them.
This tells me that when I find myself
toiling and wearing myself out, I need to cry out to Jesus! He will give me
rest.
I find that my Father brings me back to this
again and again. I have tasted the rest of God. I have experienced periods of
it and I know the peace that is found in having faith in Him. Still, my focus
wanders and my Lord lovingly reminds me to return to Him and rest in Him. That
doesn’t mean to just sit around doing nothing expecting God to subsidize my
laziness. No! That means to live and work and serve and do what I can, while
trusting Him to do what I cannot.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. ~ Hebrews 4:9-11
***
Father, I trust You right now to make all
the crooked places straight, to heal broken hearts, and mend broken lives. I
trust You to handle all the things that are too big and too difficult for me to
even comprehend. I stand before You, a worn-out cranky child, reaching up my
arms for You to lift me up, embrace me, and comfort me. But mostly, Father, I
ask You to lift up the ones that can’t reach up to You right now. Please, lift
them up, hold them, comfort them, and lavish them with Your love.
