Resting In God

Thinking of tomorrow's Solemnity of the Ascension, we can picture the Eleven, still not sure about all that had taken place, and perhaps worried about what would happen when Jesus would be taken away from them.  They must have felt a helplessness and perhaps even a discouragement, as a way of life they had lived for nearly three years was coming to an end.  What next?  Endings are always difficult for me, yet life is full of them.  Seniors, for example,  are preparing to graduate...some from high school, some from college.  What's ahead for them?
Sometimes, in our own lives, we reach a point when all seems to be tumbling down on us, confusion dominates, and energy abandons us. We ask, "What's ahead for me?" "How much further can I go?"  Nothing seems to help, except a good rest.  If we can stop long enough, we might hear God say to us, "In returning to me and in rest, you shall be saved and in quietness and in confidence you will find strength"  If we haven't learned it yet, we will find that God works best in and through us when we are at rest.  We don't have to wait till the "Big Crash", but going slowly between tasks and duties, taking time to rest and pray in between, we can save ourselves from debiletating discouragement and continue working and being effective over a longer period. God can renew us, keep us joyful and enable us to continue being his witness and ambassador.  With these little God-rest "time outs" we will find the truth in what St. Paul said:  "I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me," adding, "in Christ who rests in me!"
Bro. Rene