Today I did something that I haven’t done in years. I slept in the middle of a work day. I came home, got into bed and I slept for four hours. And boy did it feel great!

As I prepared dinner my mind was drawn to a scripture where the prophet Isaiah rested under a tree and was attended to by an angel… 

And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”

1 Kings 19:5-7

God refreshed him and prepared him for his onward journey. This really encouraged me as these past couple weeks have drained me in some ways and a weariness had indeed begun to set in.

If there’s one thing I have learnt is that spiritual things certainly manifest physically, so while much of my exhaustion was predominantly spiritual, the weariness crept into my bones.

Another thought that had occurred to me was that when we pray, we often have a preconceived notion as to how God will or ought to answer our prayer. I have discovered that I am often wrong.

Most often He answers in ways that so naturally integrate with our daily lives, that it may not seem like an answer at all, yet the shift takes place. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that we rarely go back and thank Him or that people think it’s simply “The Universe” at work.

The refreshing I feel in my spirit after today’s unusual slumber has convinced me that it was God’s will that I rest. While it may have manifested itself as terrible sinus congestion and an unbearable headache, combined with sheer drowsiness, I awoke feeling slightly better physically but with a calmness in my spirit that I haven’t felt in weeks.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

I will give you rest… literally!

What was different about this from my usual Sunday nap was that I had to let go of control. I had to surrender to releasing my business and allow myself to step back for a moment. 

I have discovered that Faith is really actively placing trust in God in all situations. When you are used to being in control and following routines, schedules and plans, it’s a very unsettling feeling to let go and surrender to an unseen God.

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 

2 Corinthians 5:7

Pastor Vernon Jacob recounted a commentary yesterday about the Israelites going through the Red Sea. It is believed that the water only parted after they had entered in and walked through until they were nose deep. This is faith!

So today, even if you are knee deep keep trusting God for the outcome, remember that His ways are not our ways and his timing is always perfect.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28