Some weeks are just filled to the brim. I’m sure you know that feeling where there is more “to do” than there feels there is time, where there are so many plates spinning it is hard to remember which one needs attention next.
If that is you right now, I hope you will be especially blessed to consider for a few minutes the theme of “Invitations from God.”
There are three invitations I want to focus on in particular: Come, Return, Call. God is speaking these words. In each case, they are followed by an offer of something for us to receive:
- Come…and be satisfied with riches that are free (Isaiah 55:1-3)
- Return…and be saved and find strength (Isaiah 30:15)
- Call…and I will answer you and speak with you about things to come (Jeremiah 33:3)
If you have been busy and feel worn down by the demands of your life, as I have felt keenly this week, take just a moment and stop. Think about the nature of these invitations from God. They do not require you to jump through hoops. They do not require you to finish a list of tasks to receive from Him.
No. Just come, return, or call. He provides everything after that.
It is enough just to turn your face to Him and bring yourself in all your glorious messiness. He will meet you with exactly what you need… even if you have no idea what that could possibly be.
I found that to be true this week. One morning, I woke up incredibly sad and feeling disoriented. I didn’t have a clue what triggered it; I couldn’t put words to what I needed. I just started crying and couldn’t stop. It was an ugly, jagged, pull-all-the-air-out-of-you kind of cry. I just kept telling God between gasps that I was just so sad and I didn’t know why.
Something about coming to Him with all those swirling and chaotic emotions gave me the space to recover and to be restored at some deep level I cannot describe.
I turned to Him. He did the rest.
Will you respond to one of God’s invitations? Can you find just a few moments to enjoy with Him? You don’t have to have a crying jag! Maybe it is just sitting for a few minutes with the early morning sun on your face, or taking a walk just to hang out with Him. No Bible or journal required. No tasks to do. Just Come. Return. or Call.
If these sorts of invitations from God make your heart sing, you don't want to miss out on a six-chapter exploration of the invitation of God to come to Him and rest. Return and Rest: A Study in Isaiah 30 is currently available for individual or small group study, and you can learn all about that HERE.