We insist on handing God our to-do lists at the start of a new year. Why is that? That’s not what we call them, of course. We call them resolutions, prayer requests, or desires of our heart. But we often develop them with little thought about what the Lord desires for us. Yearly, we immerse ourselves in complete-the-Bible-in-a-year reading plans, self-help books, study groups, fitness programs, and more. By March, many of us who embark on this annual journey feel the same way: overwhelmed, exhausted, and a bit guilty for not having made the progress we thought we would have achieved by now.
What if we took a different approach this year? Instead of busyness, what if we embraced rest as the passport to the transformation we so desire? I learned a lot about resting and waiting from the butterfly. Before it takes its maiden flight, a butterfly spends a great deal of time at rest, encased in a cocoon. In that stillness, much is taking place to prepare the caterpillar for a glorious change. It does nothing but wait amid the myriad processes that its Creator performs in exquisite detail.
And so it can be with us. Make the psalmist’s exhortation to rest in God and wait patiently for Him your theme for a new year. The rest David describes is not passive or lazy. It is listening for God’s direction and then obeying. It is spending time learning about His agenda, not telling Him about ours. And it is letting Him work wonders within us as we expectantly wait within a cocoon of faith.
Open your heart to the way of the butterfly and see how God can change you.
(Photo courtesy of office.microsoft.com.)
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By day, Toni works in corporate communications, but by night she pursues one of her greatest passions: writing for God’s purposes and sharing the love of Jesus Christ. In her free time, Toni enjoys time with her family and friends, music, reading, traveling, and beautiful beaches.