Reward in the rest

Jenna’s been out of town a lot lately, so I’ve had dog duty with Kandie. We get along fine, but we haven’t perfected our game of fetch yet.

I throw.
She retrieves.
But she doesn’t give it back.

She hangs on.

I coax her, “Give. Give.”
Until she does, I offer no reward.
No “Atta girl!” No petting. No praising.

So she misses the reward that come with rest.

When God sends opportunities my way, if I’m playing smart, I take them.

He throws.
I retrieve.
But I don’t always give them back.

I hang on.

I continue running in circles with the burden in my mouth, instead of dropping it at the feet of the Master. 

I miss the reward that comes from resting.

When Kandie does “give,” I lay it on thick.
Good puppy! That’s my girl! Such a good dog!
She revels in my praise. It is its own reward.

I’ve got to learn better how to “give” it up, too.
Spit it out. Lay it down. Drop it at His feet.

There’s reward in the rest.

The word Jesus used [burden in Matthew 11:30] means a load carried or toil borne to the point of exhaustion.

Rest is simply release from that burden.

It is not something we do, it is what comes to us when we cease to do.
                ~ The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer

* * *

More on rest:

• My rest is a person
• Rest in His presence
• Song: “Rest in the Arms”