Settled?

Let's just say that you've launched a new journey. Perhaps it's not new, but you've taken a breath and realized renewed vigor. Perhaps, it's not even that. Maybe you are just needing a word of encouragement. You look at your task, your job, your venture, and you see it stretch out before you. You've settled into the ride. You're into it now. You're committed. You have your foot on the gas for better or worse. No stopping, right? I just wanted to give you a moment's pause to reflect and then press forward.

In 1 Samuel, the Children of Israel demand to be like all the other nations and have a king. Samuel is quite upset about this and takes the matter to THE King who tells him, "Don't worry about it. They haven't rejected you. They've rejected me. For that, they will suffer the consequences of their decision." Ah, there's much to be said about this. But, that's a full sermon and not necessarily an encouraging note. So, onward, before I get sucked into preaching here. ;-)

With God's direction, Samuel locates and anoints Saul to be the first king of Israel. Samuel introduces Saul and tells the people what will happen. The people of Israel realize what they have done and, without truly repenting, beg for forgiveness. Samuel responds by telling them the rules - basically, keep God as your total focus and He'll take care of you. Remove that focus and you'll suffer the consequences.

In the end, Samuel says something that I think is beneficial to all of us. Not that we've rejected the Lordship of God, but the rest of this statement is helpful. After telling the people that they have done evil, he says, "Do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself." (1 Samuel 12:20-22 ESV) As you're reading this particular verse, I hope you hear this for yourself. I "heard" God say, "Press forward. Keep moving in the directed plan God has for your life. He has called you and He will not forsake anyone that He has called 'for His great name's sake.'" You are His child, His own. He will take care of you. You may be feeling like you'll never successfully complete the task before you. I have news for you. God will help you complete it successfully. He has called you to this task and will help you complete it if you lean on Him. That obviously doesn't mean that if you don't apply yourself that the task will magically be successfully completed. No, you still have consequences of your actions. But, if you do apply yourself, you will find success, whatever that looks like. So, keep moving forward. Trust Him to deliver you through this experience. "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." (1 Thes 5:24)

Quietness

Last time I wrote here it was about being overwhelmed, that in this season when we are feeling the great weight of pressure that keeps piling on, our task is to endure. This lasts only for a season and then ... , well, in the end, Heaven.

That said, how is it that we can endure? What can we do to "survive"? I'm reminded of our Saviour going through the years of ministry, the clamour that must have enveloped him daily. John tells us, "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." (John 21:25 NIV) I think in those "many other things" is where you'll find the noise and the overwhelming weight of duty and task that Jesus experienced. Yet, Jesus would steal away to those quiet places to pray. I think what happened was that the noise of life would become so loud and demanding that Jesus would find Himself in need of some solitude, just to refocus His attention. I can't say for sure because the scriptures don't tell us. On the other hand, we are told to "be still and know that I am God", "six days you shall labor and on the seventh rest", "the Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath", etc. Jesus, in fact, took His disciples apart so they could rest. "Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'" (Mark 6:31) When the noise of life gets so loud that you can hardly hear yourself think, that is the time that rest is most needed. Not for a long period of time, but for a few minutes, an hour, a short amount of time relative to the need. Think about the command of the Sabbath - six days to labor and then rest.

If you can find the time to rest, I think you'll discover some very welcome "music". An old hymn spoke of "quietness, blessed quietness". Setting apart a short time to quiet all of those demanding voices, all of the noise, all of the clamour, you just might find a quiet "song" that will replace all of that clanging. In those quiet, focused moments, a "still, small voice" will have an opportunity to speak. Elijah heard it. Moses heard it. Abraham heard it. It is the sweet Presence that is waiting to speak peace and comfort into your life. I am not implying by any stretch that He isn't present in those clamouring times. I'm merely saying that we can hear Him best when we turn off all the noise so that the "still, small voice" can be heard. A gospel song that I have come to deeply appreciate says, "He is here, listen closely; hear Him calling out your name. He is here, you can touch Him, you will never be the same."

I concur.