Finding Rest - a story, a practice & an invitation

You're meeting with one of us in spiritual coaching , or you're part of a group , or you're tracking your behaviors or noticing your feelings in new ways , naming your triggers , setting boundaries . You're praying . You're praising . You're journaling , you're waiting on forgiveness or you're trying to muster up forgiveness . Oh , it's a lot .

It's a lot of work and these things that you're doing to reconcile your heart with your mind and your body with Jesus . It's not linear . There's no straight path . Bless us , lord . This is hard . No wonder you're tired . Hear me when I tell you you are not alone . I hear this all the time . So let's slow down a minute .

Let's take some time to catch our breath . Don't worry , you're not losing momentum by slowing down . This is not a race . Let's allow this time to be a fresh encounter with the Lord . Doesn't that sound good ? In the book of One Kings , we're going to read about Elijah , a model of obedience and focus and endurance when it comes to a relationship with God .

And near the end of his assignment , elijah starts tripping on his own feet and grabbing at whatever he can . In One Kings 19 , elijah is running away from Jezebel with good reason , because she's trying to kill him . And Elijah is afraid . He's tired , he's done . He says I've had enough . Lord , take my life , for I am no better than my father's .

He wanted to die , but he laid down and he took a nap under the broom tree . Let me just interject here that I picked Elijah because hello Elijah , but because , as it says in the book of James , let me remind you , elijah was a human being , as we are .

So this passage that we're about to dive into is a powerful illustration of how we try and sometimes we just get tired and sometimes we just need a nap . And God is God , he's God and sees us and wants to be part of the journey with us . Okay , so the story continues . Suddenly an angel touched him . The angel told him get up and eat .

Then he looked and there at his head was a loaf of baked bread and a jug of water . So he ate and drank and lay down again . He's getting fresh bread and water . That is the sweetest , okay . Then the angel of the Lord returned for a second time and touched him and he said get up and eat , because the journey will be too much for you .

So he got up , he ate and he drank and then , on the strength from that food , he walked 40 days and 40 nights to the mountain of God . He entered a cave there and spent the night . Suddenly , the word of the Lord came to him and said what are you doing here , elijah ? He replied I have been very zealous for the Lord , god of armies .

Okay , remember , he's tired , he's done , but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant , torn down your altars and killed your prophets with the sword . I alone am left and they're looking for me to take my life . Then he , being God , said Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord's presence . At that moment the Lord passed by .

A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord , but the Lord was not in the wind . After the wind , there was an earthquake , but the Lord was not in the earthquake . After the earthquake was a fire , but the Lord was not in the fire . And after the fire there was a voice , a soft whisper .

When Elijah heard it , he wrapped his face in his mantle and he went out and stood at the entrance of the cave and suddenly a voice came to him and said what are you doing here , elijah ? Same question . Let's notice what just happened . God is grounding with Elijah . Elijah has been listening to the Lord in obedience , diligence , and he's done , he's so tired .

So does the Lord say Well , now you're disqualified . Oh , you couldn't keep up . Okay , you're done . No , and he doesn't say that to you . God , the King of Kings and Lord of Lords , reveals his heart for Elijah by practicing the art of grounding with him . Do you practice grounding ?

This technique engages all five of your senses with these prompts Search for something you can see , search for something you can touch , look for something that you can hear , notice something that you can smell , search for something you can taste . Back to Elijah . God is asking his faithful servant a question and Elijah is just too overwhelmed to answer .

Does that sound familiar ? Okay , so God walks him through some grounding . He sends Elijah a wind . He can see an earthquake , he can feel a fire , he can smell and a whisper he can hear . At the end of the experience , god repeats the question . Notice that the circumstance hasn't changed . So what's different ?

Elijah answers with the same exact words , but I bet his tone is different . He's grounded , he's more aware and now he remembers that God is with him . I have been very zealous for the Lord , god Almighty . The Israelites have rejected your covenant , torn down your altars and put your prophets to death with the sword .

I'm the only one left and they're trying to kill me too . Again , notice Elijah's answer is not different . It's the same . But now they've taken a breath together . Did you use a breath ? God recognizes Elijah's ready to move and Elijah recognizes he's ready to move . There's a lot of power in the here and now , as in where you are , you at this very moment .

There's a lot of power in being aware . I love that . God uses the gifts he's given us our senses to pull us back to our senses . It's more than a realization of the details . Grounding pulls all of you , all of you in the moment that you're in .

Take some time to practice grounding . It doesn't take long . If you want to take it to the next level , you can take your shoes off and step out onto the grass or onto your car , floor mat or on the sidewalk . Take a breath and begin . What's one thing you can see ? Can you describe it ? Give it some details ? What's one thing you can smell ?

Is it pleasant or does it make your nose scrunch because it's stinky ? What's something you can feel ? Is it the smooth chair arm or your hairy legs ? What's one thing you can hear ? Is it something you hear every day ? Does it remind you of work or your home ? What's something you can taste ? Is it this morning's tea or your old gum ?

Here you are Good job . God values every bit of you and is inviting you into the good and the hard and the scary and the frustrating , with all of you . To remember he's in it with you . We believe scripture's God breathed right . So if our Creator took the time to exhale these words , what would it feel like for us to inhale this invitation ?

Take it in these words from Jesus in Matthew 11 . Are you tired ? Are you worn out , burned out on religion ? Come to me , get away with me and you'll recover your life . I'll show you how to take a real rest . Walk with me and work with me . Watch how I do it , learn the unforced rhythms of grace .

I won't lay anything down that's heavy or ill fitting on you . Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly . Give yourself permission to take a nap , to stretch , to do some grounding , to drink a cool glass of water . Let refreshment be part of your regeneration .