From The FPF Board of Directors: Rest is Your Inheritance — Steve Lambert
My father had lots of peculiar sayings. One of his favorites was, "That guy's busier than a one-armed paper hanger in a windstorm." For most of you the term "paper hanger" has no meaning. Today billboards are often electronic and changed remotely by computer. But "back in the day" billboards were changed by paper hangers. These men climbed up on ladders and used buckets of glue and brushes to install a new billboard in sections. Imagine hanging wallpaper on a ladder... outdoors in a windstorm. Now THAT'S busy!
Too often, we find that we're living life like a one-armed paper hanger in a windstorm. We're working on our marriage when the wind catches our children and we frantically try to glue our parenting back down. Then while we're working on our parenting, the winds of life catch our faith and we're desperately trying to get our devotional life back in order—and then our finances, our household, our extended family relationships, and so much more. There aren't enough hours in a day to attend to all the loose paper of our lives–paper that always demands our immediate attention. And we wonder why we're tired, exhausted, discouraged, and perhaps even depressed. We're trying to do it all while balancing on a ladder and using only one arm.
That was never God's plan for our life. He wants us to rest in His strength, to trust in His timing, to let Him lift our weary arm–and to BE our "other arm." He invites us to come to Him when we've reached the end of our rope and are dangling awkwardly being battered by the winds of life.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Mt. 11:28-30 ESV
The late Eugene Peterson paraphrased Matthews's thoughts this way, "Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me–Watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythm of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Or Steve's ultra-short paraphrase: "Let me hold your weary arm up... and let me partner with you and be your missing arm!"
Sometimes we confuse activity with accomplishment. We're busy–so very, very busy. And yet the paper on the billboard of our life flaps in our face, mocking our inability to complete even the smallest task. If you feel like a one-armed paper hanger in a windstorm I have good news. There is rest available. The Lord invites you to give him your "to do" list. Let Him have charge of your overcrowded schedule. Ask Him to teach you His peace and His grace. Ask for His rest. Learn to live in the rhythms of grace. Ask him to be your partner–to be your missing arm. Ask him to calm the windstorms of your life.
Your marriage will benefit. Your homeschool will benefit. Your finances will benefit. Your homemaking will benefit. Your relationships will benefit. And your devotional life will benefit. Rest is your inheritance. Rest is His promise. Rest is God's will for your life.
REST
R rejoice in the life the Lord has given you.
E enter His presence.
S silence the distractions. (Turn off your phone.)
T trust in the one who invited you on the extraordinary journey of life.