Rest vs. Control
Erica here:
A couple weeks ago, my husband and I attended a concert put on by Matthew Smith from Indelible Grace. Indelible Grace is a community of musicians from Nashville who write new music to centuries old hymns. The concert was great, and I was challenged by singing the familiar words in an unfamiliar setting. Isn't it interesting how doing the same-old, same-old can desensitize us. We can sing Amazing Grace without really focusing on the power and truth of the words.
But while the concert was refreshing and reviving, it was something Matthew said that really sent a shaft to my heart. He said that for a long time, he had been striving to find rest. To be still. To be quiet.
After all, rest is a Biblical principle and promise:
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
But Matthew Smith confessed, and my heart confessed right along with him, that what he wanted when he said he wanted rest, was in fact....
Control.
Rest could only happen when everything was under control. My control. Then I could be still, then I could be quiet. Then I could rest.
How deluded has my heart been? If I am striving for control, then I am not trusting that God is in control, or that His control has my best interests at heart. If I cannot rest knowing God is in control, then my faith in His ability is small, and I am attempting to put myself behind the wheel.
There is no rest there. True rest only comes when I bring all those cares and concerns to Jesus, give them over into his care, keeping, and control , and accept the gift of rest that he offers. Rest cannot be found elsewhere. Only in Jesus.
To learn more about Matthew Smith and Indelible Grace, visit http://www.igracemusic.com/
Quiet Hymns is the outpouring of Matthew's struggle to receive that rest from the Lord. You can learn more about the album by using the link below.
https://matthewsmith.bandcamp.com/album/quiethymns
ERICA VETSCH can’t get enough of history, whether it’s reading, writing, or visiting historical sites. She’s currently writing another historical romance and plotting which history museum to conquer next! You can find her online at www.ericavetsch.com and on her Facebook Page where she spends WAY TOO MUCH TIME! www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/
A couple weeks ago, my husband and I attended a concert put on by Matthew Smith from Indelible Grace. Indelible Grace is a community of musicians from Nashville who write new music to centuries old hymns. The concert was great, and I was challenged by singing the familiar words in an unfamiliar setting. Isn't it interesting how doing the same-old, same-old can desensitize us. We can sing Amazing Grace without really focusing on the power and truth of the words.
But while the concert was refreshing and reviving, it was something Matthew said that really sent a shaft to my heart. He said that for a long time, he had been striving to find rest. To be still. To be quiet.
After all, rest is a Biblical principle and promise:
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
But Matthew Smith confessed, and my heart confessed right along with him, that what he wanted when he said he wanted rest, was in fact....
Control.
Rest could only happen when everything was under control. My control. Then I could be still, then I could be quiet. Then I could rest.
How deluded has my heart been? If I am striving for control, then I am not trusting that God is in control, or that His control has my best interests at heart. If I cannot rest knowing God is in control, then my faith in His ability is small, and I am attempting to put myself behind the wheel.
There is no rest there. True rest only comes when I bring all those cares and concerns to Jesus, give them over into his care, keeping, and control , and accept the gift of rest that he offers. Rest cannot be found elsewhere. Only in Jesus.
To learn more about Matthew Smith and Indelible Grace, visit http://www.igracemusic.com/
Quiet Hymns is the outpouring of Matthew's struggle to receive that rest from the Lord. You can learn more about the album by using the link below.
https://matthewsmith.bandcamp.com/album/quiethymns
ERICA VETSCH can’t get enough of history, whether it’s reading, writing, or visiting historical sites. She’s currently writing another historical romance and plotting which history museum to conquer next! You can find her online at www.ericavetsch.com and on her Facebook Page where she spends WAY TOO MUCH TIME! www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/
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