Villagersonline : blogs : laynEpoo : Rest and Trust

From: laynEpoo
Date: Mon Jan 30 22:37:15 EST 2012
Subject: Rest and Trust

Responses
rodhugen: my verses (1/31/12)

Mike_Wise: Thank you both (1/31/12)

Responses (sorted by date)
Mike_Wise: Thank you both (1/31/12)
rodhugen: my verses (1/31/12)

I was reflecting on Rod's message, journaling, praying...and I found this verse that i love dearly, but haven't looked at in a while:
"Find REST, O my soul, in God alone!;
my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
TRUST in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge."
Psalm 63:7
Even as i type this, it seems like God's plea to myself and our community to see God for who he REALLY IS. He is the one who can take care of us, tell us who we really are, keep us safe, protect our identities, shelter us from the darkness of the world as we engage it...
But in doing so, we must trust in him at all times. The line that Rod said at the end of his sermon is something that God has been speaking to me for a few months now, "God has my best interests at heart" - he knows the best way for me to live and what's going to truly satisfy me. Not that I don't get to have decisions, but in the day-to-day-ness, anxiety creeps in..."Should I grade more or just veg and watch this movie?", "Am I being lazy if I do this?", "Will _______(insert activity here) be restful or just wear me a little more thin?" God has been telling me that he knows me, and if I submit and give him the control that I so long to cling to in order to protect myself, that my life will end up WAY better than it would have if I had planned things out...it's been such a wonderful little adventure so far :)
But again looking at these verses, I love how resting in God is trusting who is he is...it gives me courage when I am so exhausted and not rested, to look at what I'm doing in life and how that's pointing to what I'm saying about who God is.
Did God bring up any verses for you guys?

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From: rodhugen
Date: Tue Jan 31 09:13:41 EST 2012
Subject: my verses

Thanks for your words, Layne. I often recognize my own fears as coming from feeling unsafe and unaware in the middle of evil. After my Dad died, I felt very scared. I wasn't sure how to navigate life. That anxiety kept increasing as I took on a job and went on to college. I was always afraid that I didn't really understand what was going on and that I would fail or get fired or not measure up somehow. I doubted God's goodness since he didn't seem very trustworthy. My Dad had been extremely kind and loving toward me, but he was also weak and unable to do things that other fathers did. That became my view of God. Powerless and weak, though loving and kind. I didn't think God could or would protect me from 'bad stuff'. I remember finding Psalms 4 and the realization that I truly was in danger but that God was good and he held me tightly not only in the scary places, but also every day all day. That was powerful to me. I especially liked these verses:
Psalms 4:6-8
6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
7 You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.
8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety. NIV

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From: Mike_Wise
Date: Tue Jan 31 10:33:31 EST 2012
Subject: Thank you both

Guys thank you so much for sharing your hearts. I needed to hear what both of you had to say today. I went to bed last night feeling the old familiar feeling of depression settling in.
I don't really have a prayer closet, the closest I have is my car. Driving into work I felt the need to turn off the radio and sit and talk with God awhile. I expressed my desires, my pain, my longings. I went over much of what I shared in my poem last night. Mostly what I want is to hear God and have the kind of faith that could never mistake his voice as anything else. Sadly, sometimes it feels when I need God the most he seems the farthest away.
I guess it's comforting to know I am not the only person that feels that way.

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