The Struggle is Real! But we are to R.E.S.T.!
Sometimes we can grow weary waiting on the Lord to introduce the next page He is authoring. We might even be waiting for the next Chapter! Remember He is your keeper, helper, and will give you strength…while you wait! - H.C. Daniels
#GCG Blog 03 (Exhortation) - Written by: H.C. Daniels
Make it make sense! The struggle within myself to move forward and no longer be stuck in the past is so real sometimes. You know that in-between phase…Jesus take the wheel! For many of us we are presented with wonderful opportunities that start with a transition out of something difficult but oh! if we could see it with new eyes. If we can see it through His eyes. What a blessing. It’s just that sometimes the rest of us has a hard time catching up…like our minds, our hearts and bodies (if we have experienced trauma). If we could just wake up and all the memories that our mind wants to re-play like a broken record would just stop already! While Jesus is inserting and replacing, repairing, and creating a new tune for us to rock along to. But sometimes old tunes don’t die easy and can make us feel stuck. I struggled and still do from time to time thinking that my growth is trapped in this uncomfortable place between yesterday’s mistakes (trying so hard not to repeat anything) and today’s reality of God’s renewal.
Sitting with Jesus is so glorious and He reveals so many wonderful and exciting new opportunities to grow in Him, know Him better and lead to bearing fruit. I read this verse the other day and pondered for a while what it meant like Peter after the vision God gave Him of eating unclean food even though God said it was clean (three times - that pesky tradition of man!). The verse (Prov 27:18 - NKJV) says this: “The one who keeps the fig tree eats its fruit.” So I prayed, read some more, asked God for revelation, and pondered for a bit. Fig trees were used symbolically in the Bible to represent Israel and then the Kingdom of God. It is referred to as the barren tree (Luke 13:6-9) and the budding tree (Luke 21:29-33) respectively in the parables of the Gospel. How the fig tree is kept determines the quality of its fruit. The scripture goes on to say “The one who waits on the master will be honored”. The New Living Translation says: “As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit, so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded.” Waiting on the Lord to get instruction and revelation of His will (or interests) can be difficult but it is the key to producing quality fruit of which we can partake.
Some other verses that highlight this kingdom posture that is powerful and fruitful:
Key Verses:
Psalm 37:7 - Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently on Him; do not fret because of those who prosper in their way, because of those who make wicked schemes”.
Psalm 31:24 - Be strong, and He will strengthen your heart, all you who wait on the Lord.
Psalm 62:5 - My soul, wait silently for God, for my hope is from Him.
Furthermore as Psalm 37:7 points out specifically, resting in Lord and submitting to His will (and how He unfolds it), allows us to gain renewed strength, hope, and salvation. Below is an acronym for R.E.S.T. that helps us as Kingdom citizens remember this important way of expressing our consecration. Instead of toiling and going our own way (like in Egypt - Deuteronomy 11), it is much better to wait on the Lord for Him to rain down in due season. In Canaan (Promised land) He watches over the crop and provides it, allowing us to rest in Him and His provision for us. We also should work on the assignments given already and actively wait while we are seeking God’s instruction and provision in any matter.
R.E.S.T. is:
R - Rest in the Lordship of Christ and submit your will to His
E - Eat and feast on the Word and it’s richness (logos Word)
S - Seek, ask, and ponder the Lord’s instruction (rhema Word)
T - Trust His ways and love Him by keeping His commands
Two more promises to encourage you while you wait and struggle at times (bringing you hope) :
Proverbs 10:29 - The way of the Lord is strength for the upright
Proverbs 11:30 - The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life
Remember to wait on the Lord and prioritize His ways and instructions. This is the way to bear fruit and be honored. And R.E.S.T. in His promises as you wait, and He will provide you with strength, hope, and salvation in due season!
