Hand In Hand…Into His Rest
What a treat to see John Saggau’s video with his song lyrics on Sunday! I loved seeing the life of our church reflected in the pictures, and the song was such a powerful reminder of our community:
And I’m proud to be a believer, where the Spirit’s running high,
High Street Church, a beacon shining bright.
Loving God and loving people, hand in hand we’ll go,
There’s no high like the Most High and it’s here we all belong.
(You can see John’s video here if you missed it on Sunday!)
There’s such a beautiful legacy at our church, and it continues through each of us. I’m so grateful to be part of this church family!
This week we also reached the pinnacle of our sermon series The Resting Place.
Click here to watch Dave’s message, The Resting Place: Living Stones
Throughout this series, Dave has been reminding us that God’s ultimate desire has always been to dwell with us—starting from Creation, through the Tabernacle, the Temple, and ultimately in Jesus. He longs to bring His Kingdom in us and through us.
One idea that has really resonated with me is that God’s rest is not what we typically think of. God isn’t just lounging on a hammock in the Bahamas. His rest is tied to His reign and sovereignty.
This reminds me of Psalm 131:1-2:
My heart is not proud, Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.
Because God is in control and He is at peace, we too can find rest for our hearts. Did you know that there is a physical and psychological co-regulation that happens when we are close to those we love and trust?
We are wired for relationship and so from the time that we are a baby, our parents’ care for us helps to soothe our anxieties and shows us that we are valuable and loved. Just like this psalm says, a toddler that no longer needs her mom for her life sustaining milk, still rests on her for her love, warmth and protection. This remains true as we grow into adults. Studies have shown that when we hug, hold hands, or listen intently to someone we love, our breath and heart rates slow down, we can manage our emotions better, and we are more likely to be resilient.
God’s presence does this for us too. When we open to His Holy Spirit to rest on us, we find our rest too. It doesn’t always mean that our circumstances change or that we become completely calm all the time, but we have peace because we know that God knows what He is about. He is sturdy. He is constant. And in a turbulent world, this can be reassuring.
As I wrap up, I see each of your faces floating in my mind:
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion
at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:3-6
May you know God’s peace today – His Shalom.
JoAnna
P.S. During the week I post short videos related to our spiritual journey, and I’d love to connect with you (links below)!