“We must never allow anything to injure our relationship with God; if it does get injured we must take time and get it put right. The main thing about Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the atmosphere produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to look after, and it is the one thing that is being continually assailed.”
Oswald Chambers
Busy, busy.
Go here. Go there.
Do this. Do that.
Frustration and tiredness sink in.
What’s important takes a back burner to everything else. We focus on the minors and neglect the majors. Relationships become strained. Confusion and chaos welcome themselves into our lives.
Much of our busyness comes from what we do for the Lord. We sometimes get so busy “ministering” that we forget who we’re ministering for. We become bitter, snappy, sullen and exhausted.
It is in these moments that God beckons us to join Him for a time of solitude, a time of restoration and a time of rest. Birthed from His great love for us, He desires a genuine and authentic relationship with us.
I wonder if the beginning of humanity’s journey in the garden signifies a place where we can slow down and be with God. In Genesis, God is described as walking in the garden in the cool of the day, seeking out Adam and Eve. What were His conversations with them like?
I can imagine that when God sat down to talk with them, He looked straight into their eyes to connect with them deeply. He delighted in simply being with them.
About a year ago, I felt prompted to start a vegetable garden. It was as if the Lord was saying to me, “Come away with me to the garden. There are things I want to show you.” The process of quieting my spirit, working with my hands, and listening to His whispers brought me refreshment in my solitude with my Creator. It gave me time to rest, hear, love, and be loved.
Every so often, I wake up in the middle of the night with a homesick feeling for God. I realize life has been too busy, and I’ve missed being with Him. Sometimes, an old melody from my youth, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” plays in my mind, and the words refresh my soul:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim,
in the light of His glory and grace.
It’s a shift in my mind, heart, and soul—from the things of Earth to my Savior.
Quietness and solitude are beautiful gifts. Perhaps it’s time to come away with God in the garden, taking the time to restore our relationship with our Creator.
May we continue to live…
Rooted in Him,
