A New Beginning

From the place of deepest darkness emerged the most incredible creation.

The earth was brought forth in the void. Babies are birthed in the unseen. In the stillness.

It is in this place, in the depths of the unknown, that the mysteries of the Father are at work.

It is common to want to shy away from the still and quiet periods of life, the darkness. Even in nature, we see a pattern of quietness, of rest, of dormancy. In the winter, we see the trees without leaves. Animals in hibernation. A preparing for something new. Before the new, must come a time of rest, of recovery, of healing. Of restoration. Of basking in the infinite stillness of the deep mysteries of the Father’s heart. There, churning within us, is an ever flowing stream of life and love.

Beginning anew is much more than simply starting out again and trying to make something happen by our own self-effort. Even things that appear suddenly went through a period of rest and quietness at an earlier time you did not realize.

Many of us tend to avoid rest and restoration because we think that in doing this, we are losing productivity. We are losing a chance to achieve something, to do more, be more, become more. What if, in order to be who God wants us to be, he NEEDS us to rest first? What if it is a principle he set into motion and coded into this universe? What if the destiny we are made for cannot come forth without this? Can a baby be born without the gestation period? Can our bodies continue to operate without sleep?

It is easy to think that by continuing to work and do, that we are storing up rewards for ourselves because we are accomplishing more. Is this God’s pattern? Or is it the world’s pattern? Whose idea was it? Does God need us to keep working tirelessly for him to accomplish great things in our lives? Is it his plan or is it our plan? Does he need us to sweat and “grind it out” in order to accomplish what he wills?

What if entering into the peace and rest of the Lord was a vital component for what He has for us? What if it was an immovable part of the equation, a necessary next step? As our body needs to be asleep to repair itself, what if the Lord needs us to be at rest in order to heal and transform us into the next stage?

Peace is more than a state of mind, it is a flow that you can live in, a realm where you have a deep inner knowing that the Lord has you in his hand and he will never EVER leave you. An unshakable feeling that you are loved and accepted for who YOU are, not what you do for him. It is this place of peace and rest that will empower you to reach new heights in Him, because you will be propelled by the sublime knowing of his delight in you apart from your performance. The shackles will be removed and a new creature can emerge, a lighter one that can fly to new heights.

I believe the Lord is calling many into a season of Peace and Rest, of reflection and of restoration. Let yourself fall into his arms and let go. Let go of performance mentality, let go of your to-do list. Let go of all of the tasks you perform in order to feel worthy in his presence. For the truth is, Jesus already made you worthy- there is nothing you can do to change that.

A new beginning is at hand. Will you embrace a season of stillness? Of healing? Will you let him take the wheel? No more striving. No more guilt and anxiety about what’s been done or not done. All that has fallen to the wayside. It’s just you and the Lord, next to quiet serene waters of peace and healing.

He is ready to restore you. Will you let him?