This past week in our Night Cap group, we were talking about being women at rest.  Women who are not striving and grasping and pushing, but women who, in  all the hustle and bustle of life, are at peace with who they are.  Women whose presence you like to be in because they also make YOU feel at peace.  They feel safe and inviting in this crazy, dangerous, random world.  They are a haven from the madness.  Something we all want to be.  Something we CAN be…

Where does that kind of rest/peace come from?  I was reading this, this morning –

“But blessed is the man (woman) who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.

He (she) will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes; it’s leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”   Isaiah 17:7-8

I like that.  A tree planted by water.  It has the source of it’s irrigation right there at it’s disposal.  And it sends out it’s roots, it’s deepest parts to the stream.  But that doesn’t mean that life is perfect for the tree.  It still faces heat and drought.  But it doesn’t fear or worry because of it’s water source that will provide for it.  And not only does the tree survive, it THRIVES!  It bears fruit without fail!  That is a tree at rest, free to do what trees do because it’s roots are grounded in a good place of nourishment and provision.

So what about us?  We have an endless source of provision, too.  In fact,  Jesus said He was the source of  “living water”.  When we trust Him, really trust Him, with our lives, we are planting ourselves in that source.  We are in a place where we can rest because we aren’t striving to create the water, find the water.  We are just accepting and taking in the “water”.  And in the middle of life and all it holds and brings our way, we don’t have to fear the times of drought and heat.  Difficulties will come, absolutely.  But we have the antidote to dehydration.  We have the endless source of all that we need.  We have Jesus.  And when we draw on all He has to offer us, we will be able to do and experience amazing things (bear fruit) no matter what our circumstances are. We will resemble lush, green, fragrant, fruit-filled trees where people come to enjoy shade and sweet rest.

Matthew 11:28 – Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.