Rest on the Path
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I spent four days watching my husband cough up a lung before he allowed me to take him to the ER. The first night in the hospital we did not sleep a wink. The attending doctor initially assured me that my man had a mild case of pneumonia, but that diagnosis changed quickly on day two when the blood work came back, and he struggled to take a breath. In a second, the path in front of me turned to quicksand.
My angelic sister in law drove two hours to come to support us. “You go home and rest,” she said.
Everything in my body said I needed to stay. I wanted to helicopter around my husband with constant love and prayers.
Instead, I grabbed my purse and walked to the elevator because I’d left my cold medicine at home, and I feared I’d end up confined in the hospital bed next to him with an IV of antibiotics coursing through my veins.
The gust of wind pummeled me once I exited the glass doors into the hospital parking lot. Frazzled and frail, I wandered around looking for my car in the dark night.
I drove home in a fog. I was unfamiliar with the neighborhood and wasn’t even sure I was heading in the right direction.
Have you ever pressed forward so long that the path grows unclear? I must confess that I do this all the time — and not just when my husband is hospitalized.
I run toward too busy-bee commitments that overwhelm my soul and neglect engaging in meaningful conversations.
I rush through urgent tasks on my temporal to do list and fail to make time for self care and spiritual renewal.
I race ahead to reach my agenda and forget to listen for God’s still small voice in the quiet.
I refuse to choose rest.
I fail to heed the warning of the weeping prophet: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘we will not walk in it’ “(Jeremiah 6:16).
Rather than work myself into a tizzy, God beckons me to rest — to choose to stand still, consider my ways, and choose wisely. As I worship in His quiet sanctuary, my Provider makes my path clear. He mends all that is broken in my weary heart. He erases all doubts and establishes my steps.
If we choose to rest on the path, God will
- Strengthen us to keep moving forward unconfined and less hindered by obstacles along the way.
You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way (II Samuel 22:37; Psalm 18:36).
- Draw us into His presence and fill us with His joy so that we move forward with keener spiritual eyesight.
You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand (Psalm 16:11).
- Rescue us from wandering aimlessly and turn us around toward life and peace.
“He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3).
- Enlighten our understanding of His perfect will, direct our every step, and fill us with His hope in dark times.
“Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5). “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them” (Isaiah 42:16).
- Encourage our weary hearts when the crooked seek to deceive us and knock us out.
“When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me” (Psalm 142:3). “In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6). “I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths” (Proverbs 4:11).
Choosing rest re-calibrates us. Rather than waddling in a stagnate mire, let’s purpose to allow God to refresh our hearts so that we walk forward with renewed purpose and power.
Let’s Talk: Do you struggle to choose rest?
Join me in 2016 and #ChooseRest.
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I am sharing “Rest on the Path” and joining like-minded sisters at Give Me Grace, Weekend Whispers, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, Blessing Counters, Live Free Thursday, Grace Moments, Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, Three-Word Wednesday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, Rich-Faith Rising, Testimony Tuesday, and Sharing His Beauty.
I am so sorry this happened to your husband. You didn’t mention the outcome, so I am wondering, how are you both doing now? I do trust all is well and you are both home and feeling much better. God bless you, sweet friend. 🙂
Thanks, Cheryl. Bruce spent 10 days in the hospital. He’s been home for 3 weeks & is getting a little better every day. . He will need to rest for an extended period — fractured a rib from all the coughing.
Sweet, Lyli, it’s a sad testament, but I need to read this post on a regular basis. I don’t want to be like those who say “we will not walk in it.” But that’s exactly what I do. I’m reminded of the scripture about the son who said he would do something and didn’t do it, while the son that said he wouldn’t do it, actually ended up obeying. I want my actions to obey, regardless of what my heart and mouth say! I’m so glad your husband is home in your loving care. Prayers continue for healing.
May this week bring you strength, rest and renewal … you and your man, too. Trusting that he is recovering well …
Lyli – I am so sorry that you and your husband had to endure a hospital stay and sickness. I am glad he’s home and on the mend and that you took time to rest in the midst of it as well, even though it went against everything you wanted to do. So, your question: Have you ever pressed forward so long that the path grows unclear? Uh wow, sadly YES! why is it that we keep pressing forward and onward without stopping especially when the path is unclear…. my one word for the year is #Advance … yet rest is so very important in the midst of moving forward and advancing. I’ve been writing on this very topic of rest a lot lately myself. I especially love this quote from you: Choosing rest re-calibrates us. Amen it so does. Thanks for sharing today at #Sharinghisbeauty
Oh, how I struggle to choose rest. Life can quickly overwhelm, can’t it? Continued prayers for your hubby. Hope everyone’s feeling much better. Thanks for the reminder to look for the path that leads to soul-rest. ((xoxo))
“Choosing rest recalibrates us.” Why are we so stubborn to believe that? Sigh. Speaking the truth over myself. I’ve seen the benefits of rest over and over. I am getting better at resting, but still need to drop the guilt when I do. Praying that the worst is over with your husband and that he’s back on the road to recovery.
This is so beautiful. I love how you resist but then realize how resting in God is the only way. I love the choice of scriptures, too. You need rest to be the best wife you can be, and the best servant of God. We all do!! I now need to stop preaching and start living it! Visting from #testimonytuesday today
So well said, Lyli! No matter what season we may be in, it can be so easy to fall prey to all you share here about this one specific circumstance. Rest is an illusive goal that can be hard to gain and hold onto. I am currently reading The Radical Pursuit of Rest by John Koessler that was reviewed by another blogger and have found it very helpful. Take care, my friend. Happy to be your neighbor at the Linkup at Testimony Tuesday with Holly Barrett.
Yes, Lord do I…. Oh Lyli you’re speaking right to my weary heart! It’s good for us to stand still and REST– I’m reminded of how much God wants to bless us but it’s hard to hit a moving target! Hoping all are better in your household! ♥ Thanks for a much needed reminder ♥
Oh Lyli, you and your husband went through such an ordeal. Scary, and tiring, and uncertain. And yes, a situation in which it’s hard to find rest. You asked if I struggle to find rest. It’s an interesting question. First of all, my husband and I have been lucky enough to retire. And so our days aren’t filled with crazy busyness. Add to that, we live in a small mountain community that enhances the ability to spend quiet days of ease. However, where I find it most difficult to rest is within my spirit. I can spend entire days doing nothing, but inside I am anything but at rest. I seek to find peace in the presence of the Lord, so that even when I’m not running around, my thoughts and fears aren’t running my life.
GOD BLESS!
What a powerful and much needed message, Lyli! I tend to find myself consumed by obligations, running at high speeds and then wondering why I am exhausted and worn out. This is a great reminder for me today. Rest. Jesus did it, I need to to do it too! Neighbors with you today at #TellHisStory.
Lyli,
I literally just stumbled across this post of yours after linking up with your Thought-Provoking Thursday. Every time I tried to get my computer to pull up something else, it would accidentally click on your post on REST. No coincidence here. God wanted me to read this.
Not that I’m crazy busy but that I needed to be reminded of one of my favorite verses that pulled me through an extremely difficult time in my life.
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths. Ask where the good way is and walk in it….”
I need to get myself back to that practice! I’ve coasted for far too long, and I’m running out of gas and direction.
Thank you,
Janis
Lyli,
Hope your husband is doing much better!
Janis
thank you lyli – a great post on walking restfully with the One Who knows and loves us best. May your Easter with family be restful. May your expectations on yourself and for others be laid on His breast. May you know how greatly you are loved – a “favorite” at His table.
Rereading Soulkeeping by Ortberg. Highly recommend it. Deeply needed by my hurryscurryself over here in CA.
PS I signed up for She Speaks – first time – going? If so, let’s go.
Such wise words to lead us all to consider and to also activate His grace into our lives. I can empathize with you foggy brain syndrome you mentioned… I have been there before and it is almost beyond difficult to make a solid decision because we are at the end of ourselves. Yet, I was reminded that that unless I take care of me, aka…rest more often… I can not take care of those who need me.
I am praying for your recuperative rest and for refreshment as you trust and wait in Him. Praying still for your hubby as he is restored to health.
Bless you,
Dawn
Yes! I feel many women neglect themselves and self-care because they are committed to caring for others. Yet it’s critical to care for our own bodies and spirits. Thank you for sharing and I pray your husband improves quickly!
Hoping that your husband is doing much better! Yes, it is is hard to choose rest. I always feel like there’s something I should be DOING, and need to be reminded that often the best things I can do is pray and trust, and rest in the knowledge that God is in control.
Visiting today from Weekend Whispers – so glad I was your neighbor so I could read your timely reminder about choosing the good way!
It’s hard for me to choose rest. I wear myself down more often than I care to admit. Thank you for this wisdom-filled post. I pray your husband is doing better.
Lyli, I am so sorry you & Bruce had to go through this. Grateful he is doing better. Such a wonderful post, important to us all both physically & spiritually. We can so struggle against rest because we falsely perceive rest as useless or lacking purpose. But it is in the rest that God’s purposes for our lives gain clarity and strength. May God finish the work of healing Bruce in the days ahead. Blessings!