Find Peace in the Pause
We have come to the time of the year where we are in the festive period, where some of us were still able to gather as families, and maybe take well needed time to reflect on the year that was.
This year, I think some of the festive cheer was subdued by circumstances that different people had experienced or are still experiencing at this time.
Some people with whom I had interactions with find this time hard not having the family around they would usually have, and adding to that, government-based restrictions that seem like it will lockdown people from celebrating.
I realise, however, that maybe these sudden adjustments, even when it felt like a punishment to some, could actually be just another sign to humanity to slow down, from our microwave, instant take-away lifestyle… enjoying the endless hours just staring at people (in a non stalking way) at your favourite coffee shop, sipping and tasting the sweet (no sugar added) and flavoursome coffee.
I myself was, just a couple of weeks ago, forced to face that reality when a set of situations boiled over and caused an eruption of unnecessary emotions.
But it was at that boiling point that a great friend of mine gave me a stern yet loving rebuke that I need to get to a place of rest.
Jesus himself, in Mark 6, after sending his followers out to minister, upon their return, instructed his followers to “take a break and to find a secluded place to rest for a while”, for he knew and understood that we, as humans, need a moment of rest, for we are not designed to go full speed all the time.
So that is why I am so grateful that I am surrounded by people who have been walking longer than me and who understand the value and strength it brings to have a rest every once in a while.
When Jesus says that his yoke is easy and light to bear (Matthew 11:30), because he took the heavier yoke and burdens of all of humanity upon Himself (Isa 53:4).
So in Him, we can have a full and meaningful rest and relationship, where he would fully reveal his will for us, if we would just pause and be still, and allow Him to speak to our hearts when we become quiet.
In Revelation 3, in the message to Laodicea, verse 17, John speaks about the contrast of us trying to gain riches and wanting more in life based on our own strengths and abilities.
Jesus invites us to seek Him for our needs, for to do everything on our own would just leave us empty and drained, whilst he wants to be the center of our everyday walk in life, providing daily for all our needs, and healing for our brokenness (Rev 3:18 , Isa 53:5).
From the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the idea of rest was already present. In Genesis 1:31, God took a step back from all He had created and reflected on His creation and found that it was very good (some English translations of the Bible use the phrases, “looked over He has made” and “He validated it”).
A couple of stanzas on in the Creation poem. (some theologians think, based on the structure of the Creation story in the original Hebrew manuscript, that it was written in a poem form, almost like the books of poetry like the book of Psalms), God institutes a day of rest after He finished His Creation – which would later be found in the Law.
Understanding this has brought me to the conclusion that a day of rest in every work week is needed for us as humans to stop, to rest, to pause and to reflect.
This is further affirmed by looking at the Psalms, in both the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, where you would find the word “Selah”. This word is found 74 times throughout the 150 Psalms which would indicate to me that there is a very important reason for its usage in the first place.
Various Biblical scholars have explored the meaning of this term, and it seems that it is a musical term which would, in context of the Psalms, show an interlude or change in movement. It is derived from “hlo salah” which means to strew or spread out, implicating that the subject must be reflected upon, thus stopping, pausing and meditating before continuing on.
In the same way, I believe a day of rest, of Sabbath, whether it is a particular 24 hour period in accordance to your beliefs, or a day you set apart to rest, should also include moments of Selah – time set aside just to step back from everything in front of you and intentionally get a fresh perspective and reflect on the things that cause you not to have a sense of calm and peace on.
So may you, in this crazy, difficult and different festive time, intentionally make time to slow down, to pause, and just for a moment, take in His rest and healing.
May you sense His presence, for He is truly Immanuel – God with us.
And may you too find true rest and peace when you make time to pause and reflect.