Where can I go when I am tired? Worn? Weary?
Because sometimes in life:
A minute overwhelms.
A day get’s to be too much.
My schedule feels too full.
People get a little forceful.
Bad things happen.
Circumstances throw me off guard.
Just the other day, a troubled heart started to sink me with anxiety. I turned on the TV to find a moment of peace, a second of calm and to possibly hear from God.
Yet, within 2 minutes, my so-called “peace” was interrupted.
My son called out,
“Mommy, be with me. Just be with me. Sit next to me. I need you.”
A monster loomed.
And, although I first approached him with a stern face because my rest was interrupted, God set me face-to-face with something far greater – my son’s reaction.
You see, when the bad things loomed, my son, knew something very powerful:
He knew my presence was greater than the monster.
He knew that nothing could hurt him when I was near.
He new that safety was all about my closeness.
Am I this way with God?
Do I understand the power of calling on Him for covering, closeness and connection?
Do I realize that I can call on him at all times, for all things, in all ways, on all days
and fully know that he will be there?
Do I realize that just his presence is greater than my biggest problem?
When monsters come, do I come against them – with the power of God?
Because he is always ready to sit next to me.
He is always ready to hold me in my struggles.
He is always ready to run to my rescue.
His presence always confirms my safety.
How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple. Ps. 65:4
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. Ps. 145:18
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mt. 11:28
God stands ready to impart so much to me as I incline into him: nearness, a knowledge that he is near, rest, blessings, satisfaction, goodness, holiness.
What does it really look like to incline?
I think of “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” John. John also deeply loved Jesus.
There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Jo. 13:23
Did you catch that? John was reclining or laying right on Jesus’ chest. What an act of love, humility and surrender. John leaned in…He drew near and drew strength.
When we lean, when we fall, and when we rest our faces on the power of Jesus, we love and we are loved.
Falling in means we know we won’t fall down.
No matter what we are secure in Christ.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Ja. 4:18
God leans into us. Let’s lean in. Let’s lean in when life gets tough, circumstances happen and people hurt. Let’s lean in hard, fast and with an extravagant pursuit of his love.
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Hey Kelly … don’t you just love that we learn our best lessons from those little ones in our lives? Thanks for this gentle reminder …
I do love that. They teach me so much!
Kelly, love, love, love your open, honest, transparent writing…and this post on leaning in to Jesus, amen ❤️ Your writing makes me want to listen longer ❤️
Thank you Beth. I am so glad it speaks. I pray that God shines through. Your word are so encouraging.
Outstanding! John drew near and drew strength! WOW!
I have always said to myself “Kelly has got a unique angle with words”
And you prove it over and again! I am glad God has given you such wisdom.
Many Blessings
Thank you so much Ifeoma! You words really encouraged me. I appreciate it. God is certainly using us both for his glory!
Hi Kelly,
So I took to heart your advice last week that a day late is never a dollar short on your link-up and just added mine to yesterday’s rah-rah link-up! I appreciate the grace, friend! And oh how I love your words in today’s post to lean in to God’s goodness and holiness when life gets tough — yes, that’s what we need more of!
Valerie, how wonderful! I am delighted that you joined us. What a blessing. Let’s lean in hard to Jesus; he can take all our weight. Much love to you today.
Kelly, I have always felt John made the following verse his own: “”Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.” Let us rest secure in our God who shields and loves us.
I pray I lean into Jesus today and every day. Thank you for encouraging my heart, my friend. : )
I love those words Crystal. Thank you so much for sharing that with me. John is so admirable. I can almost sense the rest taking place, can’t you?
I’ve often imagined what it would feel like to hear and feel the heart of Christ beating there in His chest the way John would have every time he pressed in next to his Lord… can you imagine the absolute feeling of completeness there? Can hardly wrap my mind around it…
And God does the same for us… the Psalms says He carries us, pressed up against His shepherd’s heart… oh the rest we have there!
Your post reminded of that just now… Thanks, Kelly, I’ll remember to find a quiet moment with Him wherever I am today 🙂 Much love. #w2w
I love that thought. He carries us pressed up against His shepherd’s heart. I had to repeat it -it’s so awesome!
Falling in means we know we won’t fall down. So good. So true! Stopping by from Holley’s.
Thank you Susan. Let’s allow ourselves rest in the love of Christ.
I don’t think I’ll ever get over the fact that while we incline our ear to God, He bends down to meet us. It’s so beautiful and incredible and all together amazing that the God of the universe is eagerly waiting on us to come and sit with Him. And that He misses us when we don’t. Love that and love your words, Kelly – been an admirer from afar and just stopped by from Holley’s link up today – so glad I did. 🙂
Tiffany, I am delighted that you stopped by. I love the thought of him bending down to meet us. That is powerful. I hope you have a blessed evening!
Thankyou what a powerful reminder and illustration of the power of being in God’s presence. May the Holy Spirit continue to enrich your heart and mind as a tsunami of God’s love and grace spills out of your life around the world and overflows into the lives of other. I love that no matter where we are in this world we can all connect through the same Jesus. Thankyou for your encouragement.
Stuart, your prayer for me is the greatest gift. How you prayed is my prayer and I am humbled that you prayed for me in the same way. Thank YOU so much!