Reed Mueller

Every once in a while life slows down enough to create a real opportunity for rest. That is exactly what happened to me on vacation last month, but not in the way you might imagine. I’m not physically rested at all. We traveled a lot, saw a lot of new sites, and got less sleep than we probably should have. Yet, I had time to rest my soul through this annual change in my schedule and by being out in God’s imaginative and beautiful creation for an extended period of time. It was in this gift of spiritual rest that I was reminded in various ways about one of the most important things I’ve ever come to understand about God. I pass it on to you, just in case you’ve forgotten or haven’t rested in a while.

The first reminder came through the simple enjoyment of being with my family. Ever had those moments when your relationships just seemed 100% right? I enjoyed that this vacation. I loved seeing my kids play in the sand, hike in the woods, and play Kick the Can. I loved seeing my wife enjoy the peace of a small lake in the North Woods. I loved exploring new places together as a family. All of this was part of resting, part of knowing one of the most important things that can ever be known about God. Because of that knowledge, the joy was better and I was more grateful.

As many of you know, I used to deal with considerable flight anxiety. Against that history, the second reminder came to me in the form of a joyful smile moving across my lips as I deplaned for the first time on our vacation. I didn’t smile because the flight was over and I was again on terra firma; rather, I smiled because I realized that I no longer worry at all when flying. The reason is simple: I now know one of the most important things that can ever be known about God and because of that, the fear is gone.

The final reminder came to me as I read a novel (which is rare for me): The Shack. The main character, Mackenzie, is a father who has his worst fears come true (I won’t give away any more). As the story unfolds, the reader observes God’s loving encounter with this hurt and angry man…

“The real underlying flaw in your life, Mackenzie, is that you don’t think that I am good. If you knew I was good and that everything – the means, the ends, and all the processes of individual lives – is all covered by my goodness, then while you might not always understand what I am doing, you would trust me. But you don’t.”

Time with my family, a smile upon deplaning, and a small section of a story all pointed me to one of the most important things I’ve ever known about God. It is something I have come back to again and again across the years. I come to it when I don’t understand some loss or hurt occurring in my life. I come to it when I don’t understand why God works in the world as he does (especially when I think he should work differently). I come to it when I work with those who are going through their worst fears. Finally, I come to it when I struggle with the more difficult and less popular truths that God has revealed about himself.

So I again remembered a fundamental truth and this is where I found – where we can always find – rest: God is completely good, better than we can imagine in every way, he always has been and always will be. He is good in the great times and just as good in the dark times. It is in God’s goodness that we can find rest in and through all the fear, the anger, and the sadness of life. It is in God’s goodness that we can enjoy the blessings even more. It is in God’s goodness that we see him for who he is and can trust and worship:

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! Deuteronomy 32:4 (NLT)

Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.” Revelation 15:4 (NLT)

In the end, all will come to realize this. All will see how good our God is. But why wait? Rest in who he is now as you remember, no matter what, that he is good!