I punctured the bag at the “Cut here” line. All the pent up steam whooshed out, scorching my finger.

A red welt immediately popped up. This must be a third degree burn. Pretty sure I’m scarred for life. Seriously. Cause you know, that’s what third degree burns from veggies do – they scar you! It had been a long, hard day (week, really) and now I’m fighting vegetables. And they are winning.

I’m dain bread by the end of the day. Poured out. Empty. Like the bag of veggies, I’m deflated and out of steam. I don’t even know what to write about anymore. Could you tell, since I’m writing about frozen vegetables?

Brain dead. Tired. I need deliverance.

For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said:  “You will be delivered by returning and resting…” Isaiah 30:15a HCSB

Deliverance by returning to the Lord and resting in Him. Yes, that sounds lovely! Jesus tells us this, too: “Come to Me…and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Why, then, am I struggling so? I’m coming to Jesus each day, reading my Bible and having a time of prayer. And still I find myself empty, in need of rest.

Possibly, like the Israelites of Isaiah 30, I’m not willing.

Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on Me—The very thing you’ve been unwilling to do. (Isaiah 30:15b MGS)

It’s hard to imagine that I would be unwilling to find rest in the Lord. Perhaps like the Israelites, I’d rather do things my own way. I rearrange my schedule,  take things off my calendar and STOP doing things, in order to start binge watching episodes of Criminal Minds. All so my mind can rest. Only, that’s not working out so great.

Maybe, I just don’t know how to come to Jesus for rest. I think my prayer time and scripture reading should do it. But obviously there is more.

Possibly, the key is in these two words: complete dependance.

Absolute and total dependance on Jesus. We need to bring every little thing to Him, every little hiccup and detour that throws our day. Everything. He’s the Savior of the word. He can handle it!

In our weakness, His strength takes over. His strength becomes our strength. Instead of deflating, we will have a quiet confidence, trusting in Jesus, in His ways, and in His timing.

I’m not going to lie to you at this point. Complete dependance takes intentional practice. It doesn’t come naturally to us – especially if you are head strong like me and those Israelites. Stiff-necked is what God calls us.

We will need to cultivate the habit of total reliance on Jesus, every minute of every hour of the day. And for that, we’ll need to pray without ceasing.

It makes me tired just thinking about it. But, really, it’s the only way to find true rest.

#2018 #YearofChange #YearofJoy #YearofRest

Grace be with you,