"So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires."
Welcome to married life (: These past 14 days have been the most beautiful 2 weeks of my life. God has definitely increased His hand in our lives. He has shown us so much love and faithfulness throughout our courtship and even more so in our wedding plans. Now, in the sanctity of His holy matrimony, I am ECTATIC to see how He will move in even more ways. This morning, was chaos. The reality of life set in and the relaxation of the honeymoon was over. My husband (hehe) and I are back to work, about to start school, getting our schedules together, getting all accounts and bills set up and it is hectic! So I just had to sit down, and open his Word, and found this peaceful reminder in the midst of the chaos: "...for all who have entered into God's rest has rested from their labors." That brought a tremendously feeling of peace for me. I understand that this verse is literally talking about when we enter into His Kingdom but I took it in on a more practical level.
We go on about our lives, running like chickens with our heads cut off, trying to succeed, trying to get the bills paid, trying to accomplish all of our goals and throughout this pursuit of "happiness" we forget to just take a minute, stop focusing on ourselves, put our labors and troubles aside and just soak in the awe and wonder of God. And that is exactly what I did, I went outside our beautiful green apartment and just stared at the plants. I never realized how much detail and beauty was in one single leaf. The leaf doesn’t run around, doesn’t move too much and isn’t worried about how it’s going to survive; it just sits there and rests in God’s love and faithfulness to take care of it. Beautiful. As I was driving to the library (a drive I take at least 3 times a week) I finally took the time and looked at how beautiful the city was, how different and unique the people walking around the golf course were and how intrinsically wonderful God's creativity really is. The people, unlike the leaf, are moving around, trying the get thin, trying to clear their minds and find some sort of utopia in their day. They keep moving, not stopping until their “to-do” list is done. The difference, they aren’t finding rest. They are missing out on the relationship God desires with them.
God has made this beautiful, extraordinary, majestic universe and we, in the midst of all our chaos are missing out on the true meaning of happiness: a peaceful and intimate relationship with our Maker. We still have to go to work, we still have to pay bills, we still continue on our pursuit of luxurious retirement. In my opinion, the best vacation plan we could ever give ourselves, is to simply take a time out from our labors and give ourselves some rest. Once I put myself and my “to-do” list aside, opened the Word for some guidance, I truly found, rest. Try it, it's one of the best vacations you'll ever take. (:
love,
Mrs. Steward
