Saturday, January 18, 2014
Where Do We Go?
In times of trouble or stress, I find myself often thinking, “I just want to go somewhere, some place where I can leave all of this behind for just five minutes.” For many of us, we are very closely tied to work or relationships or family. People depend on us to be there. That means we do not have such a luxury. Or do we? I think perhaps we do. Let me explain.
For those of us that are believers, we believe we are not the shell of skin that is walking around. We believe we live inside of these bodies, right? This is true. But we can allow ourselves to think we have to move our bodies to another physical location to get that five minutes, to get that rest. The good news is we can get that five minutes, that rest no matter where we are physically. The desire for that rest is built into us. The scriptures are full of such examples.
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
We are made in God’s image. If we are made in His image then it is likely that we are meant to be like Him, to imitate Him, which can be seen in the assignment given to man.
Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
There is much being said here. For now let’s just notice that God set up a day for rest and He rested on that day. If we are made in His image, then that drawing to resting with God (which is what is indicated in the Hebrew) is a built in part of who we really are. So how does this connect to those times of stress and struggle?
Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
God is our place of refuge. But God is everywhere, right? Therefore we have access to that rest, that 5 minutes, our refuge, anywhere we are physically. What we need to remember is stated in the last two verses.
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
If we can be still in those moments and focus on God, we can be with Him as our refuge. If we are with Him and in Him, then when He is exalted, we will be too! We can experience that lifting of our spirits wherever we are.
Today, let’s be still. He is God
Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You. Please help us today to not be afraid. Please help us today to look to you and know that You are our refuge. Please help us to know that You are waiting over us and will raise us up. Deliver Your people today Father. Lift us up to be with You. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.