Tuesdays are family night. I pick the grandkids up from their school early and we get some time together before dinner. Every Tuesday when I walk in to get my two year old granddaughter Laney, she runs up to me with a huge smile on her face, jumps into my arms throws her little hands around my neck and yells Gramma!
I love that moment. It doesn’t matter what she is doing she runs to me, every single week, without fail and throws herself into my arms.
There’s so much authentic, spontaneous joy in that moment. She loves so easily, with her whole heart and it melts my heart.
Each day comes with moments like that, moments that make our hearts sing and then there are those moments that try to claim our spirit. We live in a world that tells us to get more done in less time and tries to steal those opportunities of joy and rest.
Jesus lived a different way. He had a real intimacy with God that we all can learn from. Jesus knew when He needed to be refreshed from time his Father. Mark wrote 17 verses with Jesus in silence and solitude, starting with His 40 days in the desert and ending in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus continually withdrew from the crowds of people and the demands of His ministry to be alone with his Father and pray. He began His ministry with silence and solitude. This was also how he dealt with grief and the constant demands on Him as He ministered to people. It’s what He taught His disciples and it’s how He prepared for His death.
The world tells us give more; more time, more talent, more money. . . more of our very souls. Jesus shows us that we need to spend real time with God. The silence of listening, pouring out prayers of love and petition, lifting our arms in praise and spending time in His word. These are the things that will give us the passion and energy to fulfill the specific purpose He has for each one of us. And this is what will renew our souls.
Last year our family made the commitment to slow down on Tuesday nights and spend time together. I cherish this time we have. How much more I should cherish time with my Savior, listening to Him, pouring out my heart to Him and spending time in His word.
I want to take this same opportunity to slow down and grow a deeper relationship with God. These times of silence and solitude can help us refocus and see where He is leading each of us as well as hear the gentle whispers of His love. The world is noisy, we need more silence and solitude with Him.
“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10
“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on Him.” Lamentations 3:25-28
I think that moment every Tuesday when Laney jumps into my arms is a glimpse of what it will be like when we are once again walking in the garden with Jesus. We will walk around the corner and find our selves face to face with Him and run into His arms calling out Jesus! That will be pure, exalting joy!
