Resting in His Arms.

I remember once when I was a teenager that I had been away on an activity training weekend. This involved camping, outdoor activity exercises, early mornings and late nights. It was quite a busy weekend. I got home from the event sometime around late Sunday afternoon and went to bed for a quick sleep.

At some point my Dad came to waken me and told to that I should get up as it was seven o’clock. I said “Thanks Dad. I’ll go out and see my friends for a couple of hours”. He said, “No. It’s seven o’clock in the morning. It’s time to get up for work. You’ve been in a deep sleep all night”.

I was astonished. I was still wearing the clothes that I had lay down in the previous afternoon. I didn’t realise that I was so tired that nothing could disturb my sleep.

In later years I have come to realise that there is a lesson to be learned from that. Sometimes we just need to decided to rest. To take a total break from everything. To just sit and do nothing, nothing at all.

I used to feel guilty when I fell asleep during my prayers or reading my Bible. And it used to worry me.

Then I read somewhere that someone else had said "Well, how did you feel when your children fell asleep in your arms?” I remembered the many times when I held my young son in my arms as we read a book or watched TV. When he fell asleep I just looked down at him, smiled, and nestled him closer. That’s how God feels about you when you fall asleep in His presence. That changed the way I thought about the matter.

Remember when Moses prayed on the mountain top as he watched over the Israelites battle in the valley below. His arms got tired.

Exodus Ch17 (12)But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.

Aaron and Hur supported Moses’ arms as he grew weary. And that’s how God helps us in our tired times.

Isaiah prophecied to the people of Israel and said…

Isaiah Ch57 (10)“You were tired out by the length of your road, Yet you did not say, ‘It is hopeless.’ You found renewed strength, Therefore you did not faint”.

The writer of The Proverbs said…

Proverbs Ch3 (24) When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.

David, after he fled from his son Absalom, said…

Psalms Ch3 (5)I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said…

Matthew Ch11 (28)Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

So, take time to rest in God’s presence. Do not be afraid to relax in God’s company. For He will be there for us all.

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings as eagles
They shall run and not get weary, walk and not faint
Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait.

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings as eagles
They shall run and not get weary, walk and not faint
Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait
Isaiah Ch40 (31)


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