Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him.Â
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I will not be shaken.
My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock.
My refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him.
God is our refuge. Â Â Â Â Â Â Psalm 62:5-8 (HCSB)
Music has always been a part of my life. I played “pretend†as a little girl, holding a brush in my hand like a microphone, singing and dancing around to “I Want to Hold Your Handâ€. (That was an early song by the Beatles…they were a popular group from England…before Wills and Kate.) Music was a way for me to express feelings that I tried to bury deep inside. It was a way to release my longing for love, my hope for the future, and dreams that I feared would never really happen.
There are ‘seasons’ in my life which may seem silent. For whatever reasons, my life stops or halts. It may be a rejection or loss in my life. I may feel that I have failed in some way. God isn’t speaking and I am stunned into a motionless, silent room.
Every piece of music that stands the test of time has elements that can be found in all music. Some are:
Notes. These are the signs that tell a musician how to move from one tone to the next.
Time signature. These indicate the style and speed of a piece of music. It is the rhythm of the music.
Rests. There isn’t any music in a rest but music is made with the use of rests. Music has pause and unexpected, even important, moments of silence that bring greater feeling and expression into the music.
God sends me times of rest. Usually nothing like a ‘getaway weekend’ or vacation. It more often comes in the form of sickness, a frustrated plan, or life change. I may not love the silence of these moments but I have noticed a greater appreciation for the musicality of my life after these rests.
My Creator, Savior, and Comforter is also a great Composer who knows how to mix a song and pull the most beautiful interpretation of its components out of the life song. Will I allow Him to compose my life song? Will I see the importance of God’s rest marks?
During these times of rest I can hear His teaching more clearly, absorbing His wisdom and knowledge. I can also heal during this rest as God pours His comfort and love into me. I have a new view of rest – I am counting on the Holy Spirit to help me put it into practice.
The music today is a well-known song, Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson (1948), done by the John Williams and the Boston Pops. Notice that not all the instruments play at all times. In fact, the guy who ‘cracks the whip’ must count his rests carefully so as to come in with a snap at just the right moment. It is the give and take between the quieter strings and the more rousing brass that make this song so wonderful, a favorite of many, and a good example of the various musical seasons in my life.
