Rest of Soul is a Choice

“Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.” (Ps 116:7 AV)

Peace of soul is a choice.  If we are fearful or agitated, we choose to be.  If we are frustrated and anxious, it’s because we will not return into our rest.  God can only remind us of what He has done.  He cannot force us to be at rest.  The whole psalm is the writer’s profession of God’s faithfulness in answering his prayer.  The first two verses declare that God heard his supplication and that He wondrously answered.  The onus to return to rest is on the penitent.  The petitioner, after his prayer has been answered, must still choose to return to a place of rest.  Answered prayer does no good if we remain in a state of fear, frustration, confusion, anger, etc.  Our emotional state is ours to control.  This is why the psalmist speaks to his own heart.  He rebukes his own soul.  He tells himself to be at rest. Emotions are somewhat reliant on circumstances.  But they should not be fatally tied to them.

Have you ever been in a situation where someone is trying to help you and says, “Just relax”?  Perhaps it is a fender-bender, and the incident is over, but your adrenalin is still racing.  Your heart is pounding.  You might be sweating.  You’re shaking.  It is all over, but the emotions are still highly active.  So, the police or medical team is trying to calm you down.  The situation is under control.  No more harm is coming.  Everyone walked away without injury, but you are still highly agitated.  Whether it was your fault or that of another, it does not matter.  Your emotions are off the charts.  So, the response team is telling you to take deep breaths.  Just yesterday, I was watching a video on stress management for cancer patients and caregivers.  It was fascinating in that the first exercise she instructed was something I do without thinking about it.  You breathe in through your nose until your lungs are full.  You hold your breath.  Then you release it out through your mouth over an extended period of time.  This technique is clinically proven to lower the heart rate and also gives you something else to think on.  It works.  De-stressing is a choice that I, as a caregiver, have to make.  I took out my tackle box for the first time in almost seven years.  Time to get my license and take some time to relax.

God will not force us into our rest.  It must be our choice.  He can answer prayer.  He can end the battle.  He can de-escalate the war.  What He will not do is to force us into a place of rest.  That must be our choice.  Like a wounded animal that will not find a place to lay down and heal, we fritter about in a constant state of agitation.  It is almost like we thrive on an unhealthy emotional state.  Or, at least we think we do.  If we take a vacation, we have to choose to take one.  We have to make plans.  We have to go.  If we take time off from work, we have to plan it.  We have to notify our employer.  We have to arrange our schedule.  If we are to find that place of rest for our souls, we have to choose to find it and enter it.  It can take many forms.  It can take breathing exercises.  Perhaps a cup of green tea.  Maybe some soft music.  Or perhaps wetting a line.  Whatever form it takes, living in a state of rest is not something God can do for us.  We have to choose to be there.