And He said, my presence will go with you and I will give you rest. – Exodus 33:14
Be still and know that I AM God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. – Psalm 46:10
As 2013 marched closer to its end I had not yet discovered my word for 2014. Usually God begins whispering my new word early in the fall. But as December approached not a clue had been given. As signs of Christmas grew louder, though, a word emerged.
Rest.
And just like the words from other years I sat perplexed.
“I mean yes I’m busy. The commute to school, busy junior high son, studying and homework with said junior high son, house on the market, serving at church, dreams and goals for my photography business, husband, laundry. Yes I’m busy, but I do rest. I go to bed earlier than most senior citizens. I say no to a lot of things so I can have a day at home to rest. Rest? God, are you sure?”
“Rest in me,” He says. “Rest in my timing. Rest in my plan. Rest in my strength. Rest in my faithfulness. Rest in the gifts, talents, and dreams I’ve given you. Rest knowing I AM is working it all out.”
As I began reading about rest I kept coming back to Exodus 33:14. In Hebrew the word ruach means the breath, wind or Spirit of God. His presence.
Nuach in Hebrew means rest. It’s primary meaning is to rest, or settle down, to be quieted.
The past two years have been anything but settled. A major school change for my son and major health issues with our parents, the past two years have felt anything but settled. And now we sit waiting for our home to sell. We wait for it to sell so we can make a move that will put us closer to school.
So we can be settled.
Yet He tells me to be settled amidst the waiting. To be quieted. To be at rest. To be still. Or as one version puts it ‘cease striving.’
Only with His breath, His spirit, His wind can I be at rest. Ruach.
Resting in His Ruach will bring rest.
Nuach.
So I will be still and know that He is God. I will rest in His timing. I will rest in His plan. I will rest in the gifts and abilities and dreams He has given me. Only through His breath can I rest though.
Only ruach can bring the peace of nuach.
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; – Psalm 37:7a
Yet those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles; They will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. – Isaiah 40: 31.
As the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. So you lead Your people, To make for Yourself a glorious name. – Isaiah 63:14
Have you chosen a word for 2014?
