REST FOR A WEARY SOUL

   

 Often when we are wounded; we will retreat to our own cave of isolation.  Sometimes isolation from the noise of life has it's place; rest isn't a sin.  If anything God even rested after creating the world, so if He needed, so do I.  Yet, if we are not careful the isolation can cause us to forget our purpose on earth, we were not created to be alone.  Nevertheless, a few years ago, I went through some intense trials within my family, it was a traumatic time in my life.  To be truthfully honest, the trauma caused me to have a crisis not only within my life; it was within my soul.  It's not a period I want to relive but sadly within my mind, I have re-played the events over and over to the point of evaluating my decisions for myself and my family.  

 Still, within the coldness of the cave, I could feel it caressing my skin to bring calmness to the pain of the reality I stood.  As the wind howled through the entrance of the cave, I stood frozen to the ground.  Although the world was spinning outside the cave; I stood frozen in disbelief at what my family was just exposed to.  Yet, isn't that what trauma does?  It comes unexpectedly, a heartbreaking shock, and your mind is so overwhelmed you can't feel your body breathe.  Simply breathe...to prove to yourself you are alive but you are in the deepest pain of your soul.  Oh, to scream!  It would be a wonderful delight to allow the pain to come forth but it will reveal your presence.  It will cause some people to question your madness, some come to comfort as the friends of Job's, while the majority ignore the desperation of your scream.  So, you remain silent in isolation to prevent revealing your presence or drawing undue pain to those you love.  Oh, the hearts of the weary who long for rest!  Rest from the wolves who tore into my life so deeply with their teeth into my veins.  Yet, the pain is so deep the ice has started to frost my vision of God or distort the truth with its plaguing questions of doubt, unbelief, and fear.  

Numbness falls quickly as the dark twilight of the night emerges without solace or friends.  The numbness is a companion of the dread in which I stand.  God's voice is silent, no friends to depend upon, and the pain deepens with each breath.  The cave isolates not those who can conflict with pain but it isolates them from the opportunity of life or healing.  Love, peace, and healing are truly the hope of the weary soul but the fear of rejection, being misunderstood or doubting your faith could cause the choir to hush.  It's the reality of where your life stands in the midst of trauma.  

 Unbelief whispers questions about your worth before the Almighty as the dust of the ashes falls.  Doubt points to the reality of where you are.  Fear holds your feet, so the mustard seed of faith can't be seen.  The ache of your beloved's longing to come as the morning sun.   Although we seek solace or seek to gain an understanding of what's happening, we can lose a piece of our heart with our questions.  Questions of wondering, "Did I handle the situation right?"  "Did I make the right decision for my children?  How do I rebuild my life outside this cave?  Is it worth the risk?  

IF I REMAIN IN THE CAVE; IT WILL TURN INTO A TOMB'

God didn't create our lives to be a walking tomb; He created us for life.  Truthfully, life at times will not make sense, pain is a reality, but the truth of God's Word and His character will prevail.  How can I be sure?  Jesus is still the Good Shepherd.  When your beloved calls your name, your aching heart thirsts to answer the call even if it's just a whisper.   He hears it!  A shepherd will search endlessly to be reunited with his sheep, regardless of the terrible location of the cave.  What truly brought me out of the cave, was truly being alone to hear the voice of the Shepherd.  I didn't answer the first call but as the Holy Spirit keep prompting me, I obeyed to come.  During a weekend stay at a hotel, I was determined to hear the voice of God, I wanted to be alone to pray until I heard Him.  So, I will share what He told me, "Let Me lead you to see MY goodness."  The Holy Spirit led me to two places in Scripture Psalm 23 and Psalm 34:18 and then told me to sleep.  

WHEN THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I LACK NOTHING!  He desires to take me out of the cave to a place of GREEN PASTURES and LEADS BESIDE QUITE WATERS.  He knows I need rest, tranquility, and substance for my soul.  Yet, so many times we run what He offers.  He wants to REFRESH my soul.  We can rest assured of His desire; it's His name-FAITHFULLNESS and TRUTH!

Although darkness came, it will not conquer me because death has been defeated by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  So, as His child, I will rest in knowing His goodness and love will follow me ALL the day of my life.  Even in the darkest times of my life, I am not out of His sight or care.  

As Toby Mac sang in The Elements, "I get my head right, my heart has to follow."  Beloved, God is calling you out of the cave, don't be afraid to answer.   I pray the Spirit of the Lord will give you strength to step out of the cave and breathe life into you.

  

SEEKING SOLACE IN THE CAVE

Often we set goals for ourselves or have high expectations for our job, ministry, or our family.  There isn’t anything wrong with setting goals; it’s good to have direction or focus to keep us in the right direction.  Nevertheless, sometimes life doesn’t go according to plan, it has some unexpected turns or adventures.  As we stand in the midst of what we feel is “chaos” in our lives or utter failure, God is using it to bring about His will.  I admit, as I have been re-evaluating my life over the last few years, I felt as an utter failure in the eyes of God.  As a result, I didn’t want to pray or read the Word of God.  Although the only approval I desired was God’s, I felt as if I was un-worthy to step into His presence.  It wasn’t the desire of God, He pursued me with loving-kindness.   Sometimes, I am truly amazed at God’s patience and His loving-kindnesses, it never runs out.  Can I just be really honest?  I was simply mad at God.  So, as a result, I refused to come to Him, so I ran.  Yet, where can I really run from God’s presence? 

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? (Psalm 139:7)

Oh, I am sure I am not the only person to seek solace in a cave, we all have done it.  We refuse to engage with others or we isolate ourselves to think things out.  No matter how hard we try “thinking it out” causes our hearts to be more frustrated or fall into despair.  As the voice of discouragement speaks into our heart, we begin to accept the circumstances.  We don’t see a solution or a way out of the problem, so it takes to a path of despair to lead us right into the cave.  Alone.  Empty.  Secluded.  Surrounded by utter darkness; no evidence of life around.  We don’t want anyone to see the depths of our wounds or the lies we are wrapped into believing.  Yet, this is where we find a great man of God, at a cave. (I Kings 19:9-11)  What led Elijah to the cave?  It wasn’t just the threat of his life from Jezebel; it was the final straw of a broken heart.  Elijah just had a major victory with the prophets of Baal, he even silenced their voice.  A stronghold on the children of Israel was destroyed through his ministry.  Yet, he was disappointed at the results of Israel’s heart; he wanted revival for his nation.  No repentance, no change.  Now the Queen has placed a summons for his head, so he runs. 

Elijah allowed the discouragement to blind his eyes, so the voice of fear had power to move him.

Discouragement comes from our own broken expectations; it’s not what “we expected” as the result.  It’s not that Elijah doubted God’s Word or His power; he was used mightily to show the truth. What was the truth?  “The Lord-he is God!” (I Kings 18:39)  We are the instrument to be used; God is the one to produce the results.  Elijah wanted a national revival!  He wanted to see the entire nation turn back to God.  Elijah forgot his past victories; so he had nothing to build his faith at the heat of the moment.  When we have major victories in prayer or in spiritual warfare, we can’t let our guard down.  Elijah defeated the PROPHETS but he allowed                                                                            the SINGLE VOICE of the enemy to defeat him.  

   

In our circumstances we have power to defeat them or allowing our circumstances to overcome us-it’s simply a battle of words.  What do you REALLY BELIEVE?  If we are standing in the cave; we are standing defeated.  God didn’t call Elijah to the cave, he went there himself.  (1 Kings 19:10)  God said, “What are you doing here Elijah?”  So, I will ask you the same question, “what are you doing here?”  Why are you standing in this cold, dark, isolated place?  What do you really believe about yourself? God? And the Word?  God doesn’t call His children to darkness; HE CALLS THEM OUT OF IT! What I love about the Lord is His passion for us; He will come to our aid.  He doesn’t allow His children to walk in misery; He comes to restore our soul.  Elijah was physically, mentally, and spiritually worn out to fight another battle.  Elijah didn’t have the strength to face the circumstances alone, so God ministered to Him.  When was the last time God truly ministered to you?

Oh, we may believe there is solace in the cave!  Yet, the only way out of the cave is to hear the voice of the Lord!  The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”  Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord wasn’t in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord wasn’t in the fire.  And after the fire came a GENTLE WHISPER.  When ELIJAH HEARD IT, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.  Right now your circumstances may be speaking loudly but it’s not the voice of God speaking-it’s a gentle whisper.  God wants to speak into your life but you have to allow Him the opportunity.  Your circumstances will speak into your life but only the voice of God has the final say.  Don't allow discouragement to blind your steps, so the enemy has power to move you.  God will call you to Himself; that's where you belong.  You don't belong in darkness; you are a child of light.