The Proof of Spiritual Rest
“Walk in the good way, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” — JER. vi. 16.
ee ALK, and ye shall find rest.” Is not
that an incongruous statement. Is it not like saying, “Shut your eyes, and you will see.” Are not walking and rest opposites; is not the one a movement and the other a stillness. Yes, in the world of matter. When we speak of a body at rest, we mean that it is motionless. But when we say that a soul is at rest, we mean just the contrary; we mean that it has become capable of movement. I do not think a soul ever begins to walk until it is at rest. What is your idea of a restless soul — of mental dispeace? Is it not your conception of a mind which is incapacitated from working, which is unable to concentrate itself. Mental
dispeace is mental inactivity. Whenever we attribute unrest to any part of our spiritual being we imply that it is a part not working, not fulfilling its function. A restless mind is a mind that cannot act. A restless heart is a heart that cannot love. A restless or wavering will is a will that cannot decide. It is only - when the soul has begun to “He down in green pastures” that it is able to walk in the paths of righteousness. It is not said, “Walk, and you will get rest”; it is, “Walk, and you will find rest.” The rest is there already; it simply waits to be revealed. You will discover it by your power of walking. You will learn your peace by your prowess, your calm by your courage, your satisfaction by your strength, your repose by your running. You will say, “I must have had wonderful inward rest, since I have walked so far, fought so long, worked so well; I never could have soared so high unless my heart had seen its home.”
Lord, nothing but Thy peace will give me strength for toil. I am easily wearied from without when I have not rest within. I move with tardy feet when my heart lies not on a couch of down. Often have I marvelled at that strength of Thine which could climb the Dolorous Way bearing a cross laden with the sins of all mankind. But I have found the secret now. Thy peace came first — came before the Garden, came before the climbing. It was Thy peace that made the climbing possible, it was Thy peace that made the yoke easy and the burden light. Be mine Thy peace, O Lord — the peace before the battle! I too have steeps to climb, I too have crosses to carry; send me the rest of the heart ere they come! I have heard men say, “After dark the light comes”; but I would have light in the dark. I would not go into Gethsemane without peace, Thy peace, already in my soul. I would have an hour of Divine communion ere I go — an hour of human brotherhood, an hour for the breaking of bread. I would be warmed by earthly sympathy ere I go — would feel the clasp of kindred hands and the joy of a common fellowship. I would have the transfiguration light ere I go — the face radiant from within and the raiment white and glistening. Not as the world gives, give Thy peace to me! The world gives its peace to reward toil; give me Thine, to prepare for toil! The world gives its peace to exhausted energy; give me Thine, as a stimulus to action! The world gives its peace as a rest from labour; give me Thine, to wake me from repose and to nerve me for the coming day!