A Quiet Place
nd I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.” Psalm 55:6
As I sit here, resting and musing, this thought came to me: is there no place of total rest? Is there no place where I am carried, instead of me carrying myself?
Oh, I am not talking about being lazy and just letting everyone else do the work. I am talking about God.
I am talking about His loving arms around me. I am talking about a place where grace really and truly does work; a place where there is absolutely no condemnation; just love, acceptance, and well, yes, total peace.
And where would that place be? Where can I find a place where I am totally and 100% accepted? Organic; just me being me; not having to carry any burdens, because I am weary and tired.
Have we lost touch with the gospel? Is there no place at all in this world where nothing is about my sin, and everything about Jesus?
Is there no place where God’s love replaces religious politics? Does God really ask me to live by all of the religious rules and regulations I hear preached in our pulpits? I have been doing so much religious stuff for so long, that I have lost count.
And yet, for all the labour and effort that I have invested in these things, I don’t see that they afford me any more peace now than when I started.
I am tired of the religious circus. Religious politics have worn me out. I am exhausted from the labour and toil that the deeds of the Law have extracted from me. I now know that I cannot afford to purchase a single one of God’s blessings by my own “faithfulness” or “moral purity”. I am sick of religion. I need something more powerful, secure, eternal and comforting than my own “good works”.
I think that I have found the answer, far, far from religion, and His name is Jesus.
I am comforted as I am reminded of Jesus words when He said – I will have mercy and not sacrifice. I am strengthened when I hear Him tell the woman caught in adultery – neither do I condemn you. I find rest in His words when He says – whoever comes to me,
I will in no wise cast out. Jesus’ words are words of peace when He says: “come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.
Jesus is my quiet place, and His love, mercy and grace, give me wings like a dove, so that I can fly away and be at rest.