Learning to Rest - Lessons from the Garden

Feb 3

Learning to Rest in God's Word — Wintertime for the garden teaches me to rest in God’s word.

This winter has overall been a warm one so far. We were still getting bell peppers in December! It’s tempted me to try to keep the garden going. Starting in early January, though, cold weather hit. In pure Southern weather fashion we swing between mornings as low as 16F and afternoons into the 60sF. So what am I doing with the garden? Still covering the ones stuck in place, hoping to salvage what’s left. And the potted plants - bringing them back and forth, back and forth, inside and out again.

And, to be honest, the poor plants all look pitiful. I’m starting to feel like the mom refusing to let her kid quit whatever activity because I want them to be good at it. All the while the plants seem to be groaning, “Let us rest.”

This winter my body and mind call the same cry. “Let us rest.” Yet I stubbornly think, “If I intentionally am less busy for a week that will suffice,” and then I proceed to pump myself full of supplements, super foods and bone broth in an attempt to will my bounce back. Don’t get me wrong, all of those things are obviously good things to do. But my heart behind the actions - my thoughts, desires, will - is wrong. I am trying to force what I think I need.

Learning from Leviticus to Seek God

I’v been reading through Leviticus, and repeatedly I see God’s desire, and command, to not just go through the motions of the ceremonial practices but to reflect on the purpose in them. To seek God, to know we need Him, to confess the life-costing error of our ways and to reflect on His character and mercy. When I will my plants, my self and my life structure into productivity and avoidance of a lull in the cycle, I ignore God and His wisdom and refuse to take time to seek Him. What does God know I need?

On the Day of Atonement, the Israelites spent the day in somber reflection, remembering ways in which they walked outside of God’s path. We, too, must be diligent in our faith and reflect on why and how Jesus acted as our atoning sacrifice. When we take time to rest, we can remember the eternal rest we receive through faith in Jesus and in God’s promises.

Scripture to Contemplate

Hebrews 3:13-14 reminds us to “exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ else any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end…” (NKJV) And Hebrews 4:9-11 goes on, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his work as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience (referring to the Israelites’ lack of faith in God in the wilderness).”

Applying the Scripture

Hebrews tells us God sees everything (4:13) so we must keep to God’s word that, through Jesus, we may “come boldly to the throne of grace” (4:14-16). I have found that when I actively slow down and spend time with God and His word, I am renewed in faith and able to approach God with the confidence of knowing His promises and His character.

In preparing the garden for winter, I learned our potted fig tree was to be taken to shelter to “sleep” after the last leaves fall off.1 Seems appropriate that a tree so often used in parables and imagery in the Bible should be the one from the garden representing this lesson for me. We all, I’m sure, need to remember that a tree produces better fruit when it has had its rest.

Focus Verse

Exodus 33:14 “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Time To Go In

The garden, it cries,

“I must rest!

I must rest!”

The earth, it sighs,

“I am weary,

I am tired.”

My pride, it shouts,

“I must go!

I must do!”

My Helper, He whispers,

“The time, it will come

when you shall walk again.

But, for now, you must listen,

for your faith may wane thin.

In all of your hurry

and all of your haste

you lose sight of your Savior

and your efforts may waste.

Come, sit a while

and hear what I say.

And the seeds which you sow

shall not wither away.

See the fig tree, it slumbers

with the shortening days.

It patiently waits for spring’s sun and rain.

So you shall also bring fruit in due course

For now, hear my words

and my instruction, perforce;

else you may wander a path led astray.

So, listen now, your Father

is calling you in.

Father, I see I began my own way

I pray you forgive me and help me to see.

In quiet I seek You and know Your love for me.

References:

https://awaytogarden.com/how-to-overwinter-a-potted-fig/
Radmacher, Earl D., et al. The Nelson Study Bible: New King James Version. T. Nelson Publishers, 1997.