R&R

My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus 33.14

As the majority of these letters have emphasized, spiritual freedom is not something that organically occurs, simply as a result of our wanting it. Its attainment requires sacrifice and sustained effort and can often be painful. Although the pain is temporary, it is real.

As discussed last week, encountering opposition generally necessitates swift entrance into warrior mode and its associated activity. Being a Christian means being a soldier (whether we like it or not): Share in suffering as a good soldier in Christ (2 Timothy 2.3).

There are, however, times when our well intentioned efforts do not bring about the results that we desire. Not only do they not beget the fruit that we are seeking, but they actually make things worse (much worse).

In cases such as this, we are left with no choice but to put our weapons down, step back and do two important things:

1. Repent

2. Relax

Repentance is crucial, as it covers us from the effects of sin. If the disturbances that we are experiencing are due to unacknowledged sin, pausing, stepping back from our spiritual disciplines and then relaxing will not bring about good results.

Christ is the God of flow: The river of God is full of water (Psalm 65.9). He wants us to let go of control and surrender: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3.5–6). If we are weighed down by unconfessed sins, however, going with the flow can rapidly flip into flowing off the edge of a cliff.

To avoid the latter, we must come to God in repentance and be cleansed: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1.9). Having done this, safe in the knowledge that we have been redeemed by the blood that Christ has shed on the Cross, we can move on to point number two: relaxation.

Purification can be challenging. As a result, it is easy to get tense and frustrated. The more agitated we get, however, the more spiritually vulnerable we become and the easier it is, for the enemy to enter into our sphere and cause disharmony: Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom (Song of Songs 2.15).

Because we are committed to our spiritual walk and diligent in our disciplines, we often forget that it is only as a result of Christ, that we are able to do what we do. His life within us is the sole means by which we:

Sacrifice: Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name (Hebrews 13.15).

Fast: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4.6b).

Pray: We do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8.26b).

In relaxing, therefore, we create space for Christ to do for us, what we, temporarily, cannot do for ourselves. He is in control. Although it can sometimes feel as if He is far away, He is always near: Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28.20b). Let us, therefore, take a moment to pause, step back, repent and rest in Christ. He is with us. As He always has been and as He always will be.

Amen +

Author of You Are Mine and Apocalypse, Sister Anastasia writes on the role of the ancient, ascetic Church in a rapidly changing, modern world.

Photo by Dick Hoskins on Unsplash