Many years ago I was apart of a very early morning Bible study. In that season in my life as a stay-at-home mom to a toddler, it was the only time of day that worked for my schedule without having to line up a sitter each week. One particular morning, my alarm went off and as my eyes struggled to open I immediately felt the desire to pull the covers back over my head and pretend the rest of the world didn’t exist. It wasn’t just because I could have used about 900 more hours of sleep (did I mention I had a toddler?), it was mostly because of what was happening in my world at that time.
I managed to get myself out of bed and into whatever clothes had landed on the floor the night before, grabbed some coffee and drove across town in the dark as my brain tried to convince my body that it really was morning and not the middle of the night.
About halfway through our study time, we would always take a potty break. That was about the time that the guzzling of coffee was taking effect. As I made my way through the dark lobby of our church to the women’s restroom, all I could think about was that the sadness was trying to consume me. You see, at that time, it seemed like there was bad news every which way I turned. My father-in-law had just been diagnosed with cancer. The son of our dear friends had just been diagnosed with leukemia. We were in the process of trying to adopt and were hitting brick walls at every step. And I was weary.
I stepped into the stall and as I reached my hand out to grab a toilet seat cover I was stopped in my tracks. There, on the metal toilet seat cover holder were two words; ‘Rest Assured‘.
Now, I’ve been in that restroom at least a hundred times prior to that day but I had never noticed the name of the toilet seat cover company before. Let’s face it, it’s not the kind of thing one is usually paying attention to. But, on that morning, those words felt like the sweetest of gifts. Yes, my initial reaction was to chuckle a bit at the name, but the emotion immediately following was one of utter amazement.
Because on that day, in that moment, there could not have been two more perfect words for me to see.
I just knew that in the midst of the questions and the heartache and the sadness, God was speaking to me. It didn’t matter how He did it. It just mattered that He did it.
And, I believe that there are those of you who need to hear those same words today. You need to be told that you can rest assured.
You can rest assured that God cherishes you.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
You can rest assured that God is for you.
“God is for YOU! If he had a calendar, your birthday would be circled. If there’s a tree in heaven, he’s carved your name in the bark.” ~ Max Lucado
You can rest assured that God has chosen you.
“Just as chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love he predestined us to adoption as sons (and daughters!) through Jesus Christ to Himself.” Ephesians 1:4-5
You can rest assured that God has a plan for you.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back from the place from which I sent you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:11-14
When you put together the meanings for the word ‘rest’ and the word ‘assured’ you can define it this way: to rest assured means to relax with confidence.
What would happen if you were able to relax with confidence in the Lord even in the midst of the trials. If I’m honest, I have a hard time relaxing even when things are great let alone when I’m struggling!
Over the years I’ve often come across a quote that has God saying to us something to the effect of,
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this!” ~ God
But for some reason that always seems a bit dismissive to me. I think the more accurate statement would be,
“Rest assured that I’m with you IN this.” ~ God
Friends, resting assured in God’s love for us doesn’t mean that the pain or the fears or the doubts just magically disappear. It means that when those feelings arise, we can bring them to Him confidently knowing that we can lean into Him. That we can relax into His love. It means knowing that we are cherished and chosen. That He is for us and has a plan for us.
On that morning as I stood there in the bathroom stall, I had no doubt that those words were meant just for me. That my Heavenly Father cared for me so much that He would speak to me through any means.
Even if He had to use toilet seat covers.
Vanessa, Thank you so much for sharing this post. For the past few weeks I have struggled to just survive, and I needed to remember how much we crave to rest in God, and how much He desires for us to do just that.
Thank you. Truely needed and greatly appreciated.
Could not love this any more!!! It’s always the still small voice, isn’t it? Amazing how God speaks to us.
Beautiful! I know that feeling of weariness all too well. What a great story! I chucked a bit a the name too ;).
Thank you Vanessa for the great reminder of Our Father’s Love for sometimes are really easier than others!!! Your thoughts clearly remind me of what HE has done before, now and in the future. It’s close to 11:30 pm and just reading your post for today and so glad I did and GOD bless❤️❤️❤️
Vanessa, there is no coincidence that I read this post after I had previously chatted with the Lord, while fixing dinner, about not having the patience to wait for His timing. I was thinking that I would pray and pray hard and I would have heard His answer before 2YEARS!!! But I literally had His answer immediately and He said, “You have not trusted enough in me to seek and follow my plan for you”. I had prayed but I wanted things to change and I expected an outcome Now without listening to the Lord layout the plan for me. Rest assured, after reading this I will be listening! Thank you for proving, just as you know from the toilet seat cover, the Lord gets our attention one way or the other!
Thank you, Vanessa…needed this one this morning.
A beautiful message! Thank you so very much for being true to yourself and for sharing your life.
Thank you for this. The first quote is my favorite verse, and I needed to “hear ” it again. I am feeling so conflicted in my life right now, so torn, so confused, – I really need the Lord to speak to me, guide me, touch me, show me- what to do.
Thank you.
Vicki I’m so sorry that you are struggling right now in your life. I’m holding you up in prayer!
Isn’t it wonderful the ways God finds to speak to us? Thank you for sharing this awesome memory and reminder to all of us! Hugs!!
Now I know why my Internet crashed for a month and it took so long to catch up.. This is the right time for me. God’s blessing upon you. Peggy
Thanks so much for sharing. This brought tears to my eyes. My youngest daughter is going through a divorce and she has a 3 year old daughter and it is so heartbreaking. I have been struggling but I know that the Lord loves her even more than I do and has a plan for her.
Oh Bonnie I’m so sorry for what your daughter and granddaughter are going through right now as well as what you are experiencing as you try and provide support for them. Praying for you!
Fall has always been my favorite time of the year. I was born in October so it was my very first season
that I experienced on this God given earth. . I love everything about the fall. It’s the warm vibrant colors, the changing of the season, it’s as though God said “Now it’s time to slow down” and enjoy our lives even more. When the weather turns colder, nothing is better than curling up with a good book, (like Life In Season) next
to a warm fireplace.
A walk in the fall is like taking a walk in the heavens. The sky becomes more subdued and softer, the trees look like rainbows, and the leaves seemed to glisten as they blow in the wind.
Fall for some is a step away from a cold winter but for me it’s a change which is almost intoxicating.
Enjoy every minute, it will soon come and go.
Shelley Sapyta
I just ran across this post this morning and it’s just what I need! The assurance of the Lord being with us and resting in Him…. that’s powerful and beautiful!! The lovely pictures of your home drew me in even more. I haven’t been in the blog world much the past few months, but I’ve been inspired to begin sharing and writing again. Anyways, I’m really glad I decided to browse through your place here because I always come away feeling very refreshed and thankful. Thank you ladies for what you’re doing here!!
Blessings,
Leslie