Psalm 62

Psalm 62:1-2 

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

² Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. 

Maybe it’s just me, but I tend to find that after a long weekend, and I’m always much more tired than I would have been after a regular weekend, because instead of finding more time to rest, I just find time to pack in more activities. It’s the same for vacation. I love it, and I have a wonderful time, but I come back exhausted. This past weekend, coupled with the fact that May feels like it has been 852 days long, has just made me tired.

I will be the first to admit (or maybe the 2^nd to admit, after my family members who tend to pick on me about it) that I am not a good “rester.” I never have been. I have always lived my life going 100 miles/hour, trying hard as I can to pack in as much fun and joy and excitement and activity. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this, life in the fast lane with ultimately leave you needing a break. I go hard and fast until I hit a wall, and then I’m forced to stop and recover.

Our Psalm for this week as we wrap-up May is a promise of rest from our Father. God tells us that our soul can find rest in Him. Soul-rest is better than vegging in front of the tv, a quick nap, or even a good 8 hours of sleep. Soul rest is that refreshment that comes when we feel like we have given our burdens to God, and that in turn we are lightened, and we find fresh energy to continue on our journey.

It’s interesting that these verses open with the thought of rest, but quickly move to naming God as our rock and salvation, as that strong place that can hold us and protect as we rest. Our rest is not as much about what are we doing, but it is about where (and in whom) we are existing. If we live in a fortress, we are protected. People who live in fortresses have large walls, and gates, and moats, and often times, other people, who are all protecting them. When God is our fortress, we know we have protection far superior than any person could construct or deliver.

In order to be protected by a fortress, all a person must do is enter. Once you are inside, the fortress does the work. The same is true for us. We have to choose to enter in to this rest that God gives. We make the decision to trust Him, to let Him fight for us, and then we simply move aside and let God be God.

If you find yourself weary today, whether it be from daily burdens, from a fight you’re tired of fighting, or even just from a spell of over-activity, let God be your rest. Give Him your worries, slow down, and enter in to the fortress of rest that He is waiting to be for you. Breathe deeply, knowing that if what tomorrow holds is too big for you, that you’re inside a place even bigger, and that you can never be shaken.