How is God calling your “doing” to reflect your “being”? I know it’s biblical to wait on the Lord, but certainly it means more than just being patient. I don’t think it includes being stressed out, tired, overworked, or strained to a breaking point, either.
It’s hard to make sense of the concept that waiting or resting IS doing. We have this notion that to properly “fit in” we need to be busy bees, which is exhausting, because productive bees can’t rest!
When our to-do list never ends and our pace is too fast, burnout is inevitable. We can’t even enjoy a Sunday’s rest because there seems to be too many things to do, places to go, and people to meet! We often need a vacation from our vacation.
As betrayed women, we know how important it is to take time to nourish our souls so we remain healthy to pour into others.
We need boundaries and a new perspective, so I love the words from Isaiah 64:4—
“since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.”
This is great news! There is reassurance and hope God is always at work and acts on our behalf—even AS WE WAIT ON HIM. The weekend is upon us and Sabbath is a great place to start practicing waiting.
I’m reading The Sacred Year, by Michael Yankoski. In it he describes his Sabbath as not HAVING to do anything. No obligations, homework, email or bills. Nothing that feels like work or oriented towards productivity or achievement. He lights candles and puts his watch and cell phone away. Doesn’t this sound inviting?
Anyone ready to join me? I’d love to hear how you spend some holy Sabbath time. Let me know how you get recharged and wait on Him.
Sounds delightful, Debra.
I remember a seminar I attended on prayer, where I was surprised at what was taught. I was expecting to learn (be reminded of) how to make a prayer list, set aside enough time, pray, and check off each item as more prayer requests come in and the list gets longer and longer … To my surprise, some of the key passages were about Mary and Martha in Luke 10, and Psalm 27:4, about resting in the Lord, meditating on His beauty and holiness, soaking in His love, and sitting at His feet like Mary. We are to “wait on HIm” – not like a waiter, but like a “lady in waiting,” who stands quietly beside her mistress, where she is available to serve at a moment’s notice. When you think about it, when Jesus was in the home of Mary and Martha, if He had needed anything like a cup of water, Mary was in a much better position to get it for Him that Martha, who would have needed to be flagged down in her busyness. 😉
I love all your insights. Thank you. You are so right about Mary, being ready and near Jesus. Clearly she had chosen the right thing as Jesus said.