Last month, I had the joy of joining other women from our church for our annual women’s retreat in Donnelly. Our theme was “Be Still, Behold, and Be Held,” and our text was Psalm 27. Like David in this Psalm, we wanted to quiet our restless, busy, and anxious souls, behold the beauty, power, and care of God, and rest in His truth and promises through both the calm and chaos of life.
I’ve experienced the gift of being still, beholding Jesus, and being held by Him many times, and it’s the BEST. But, it can also be frustrating when it feels like the only way to truly experience these things is to make time to rest, relax, or get away. With our busy life, those opportunities feel few and far between. I love my family and my work, but the busyness can feel overwhelming, and I often find myself longing for the next opportunity to get away and rest with Him. At the retreat, though, the Lord showed me something I hadn’t fully realized before.
During worship, we sang “Not in a Hurry” by Will Reagan, and the first line struck me: “Lord, I don't want to rush on ahead in my own strength when you're right here.” My mind raced. Wait, that’s what I do! I’m always in a hurry, rushing ahead on my own strength. Yes, I take time daily to be with the Lord, but then I say goodbye to Him and plow ahead on my own. Why do I act as though the only time I can really enjoy His presence is when I’m quiet and still? And why do I think those relatively brief moments are enough to fuel me for the climb ahead? Why do I so easily forget that He’s right there, eager to walk beside me and give me all I need for the race He has called me to?
Quiet times with the Lord are vital, and longing for our final destination with Him is right. But, I realized I don’t have to run the race between rest stops and the finish line alone. I can experience His presence, care, and help all along the way. I need only to stay close to Him as I climb. I can treasure the moments when we steal away together to rest and take in the view, while also enjoying the many more moments of navigating the everyday highs and lows of the trail together. I need only to seek His face, ask for His guidance, and trust His lead. And as I travel with Him, He will renew my strength so I can “run and not be weary” and “walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
I’m a very visual person, and a forgetful one too. So, visual reminders are a sweet grace! When I got home from the retreat, I wanted to create one to help me remember what He had taught me. I pictured myself walking along a mountain trail, side by side with Jesus—not rushing ahead but enjoying His presence. He is right there to encourage me, give me wisdom, guide me, and carry me when I need it. I asked AI to create a computer wallpaper depicting this, and the image above is what it produced. My only complaint is that it couldn’t quite figure out the back of my hair, but it’s close enough! I’m thankful for the daily reminder to stay by His side and not rush ahead on my own strength when He’s right there.
I pray this encourages you to make time to be still, meet with Jesus in His Word, and rest with Him—but also to remember that He’s right there with you in the chaos of everyday life too. Don’t rush ahead on your own strength. He’s eager to walk with you and be your strength for the climb. You just need to say yes to His invitation!
Post By Katie Miller
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