In the last of the seven “I AM” statements in John 15:1, we are reminded that God is the gardener. Throughout scripture we see countless references to trees, plants, and vegetation. Often these references carry a symbolic meaning.
For example, in the John 15:1 “I AM” statement, John is emphasizing the sustaining power of Christ. We are the branches, and Jesus is the vine. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it is joined in vital union with the vine, only those who are in Christ can produce fruit in the Christian life.
In short, Christ is cultivating us.
In this season of quarantine, are you finding ways to produce fruit? Before you stop reading, though, this is not encouragement to “do more” for the Lord. I see the people on Facebook making gourmet dinners, learning the saxophone, creating custom fitness plans, and building magical tree houses all at once, and I resent them as much as you.
To be clear: It’s not that doing those things is bad. It’s whether those activities are coming from a place of contentment in the Lord. Are your daily activities stirring your affection for Jesus? In other words, if nailing your honey-do list is leaving you exhausted or irritable; if your to-do list takes over your day and squeezes out time with your family or your Creator; and if your creative desire is based on approval of other humans, well then it’s all for naught, a “chasing after the wind,” as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes says.
The question I’m after is this: How are you cultivating your soul?
Of the several examples from the Bible that parallel our covid-quarantine world, let’s take a look at Elijah first. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah is on fire: He raises the widow’s son back to life; mocks the prophets of Baal in a sacrificial showdown and slaughters every one of them, and then powers up and runs faster than a chariot.
But Elijah’s adrenaline quickly wears off, and after one threat, he becomes immediately afraid for his life. So he gives up. He throws in the towel and offers his life to God. As we approach the third month of Quarantine, maybe you feel like this. You are Zoomed out, you are over the toilet paper scavenger hunt, and you are ready to eat out again. There is hope for you yet, brother or sister, because sometimes the holiest thing we can do is take a nap!
As you continue in 1 Kings 19, an exhausted Elijah’s to-do list looks like this:
Lose your senses
Take a nap
Eat
Take another nap
Eat
If we look closely at the way God operates, God takes just as much enjoyment in your stillness as he does in your content creation. God gets just as much glory in your silence as he does in your newly constructed herb garden. Our Lord is honored just as much in your car-ride-to-nowhere-prayers as he is in your multi-task-while-you-Zoom-call busyness.
In fact, He prefers your quietness.
Psalm 23 is well known for good reason. And the author, David, is no slouch. David slayed a few to-do lists in his day. Yet David knows that for his soul to be refreshed (v 3), he must allow God to lead him to green pastures--beside quiet waters--so that he can lie down and be still with God (v 2).
Elijah and David both receive nourishment from the Lord and then carry on in mission.
Neither Elijah nor David, however, came close to mastering the way Jesus so often stole away in early morning or late night hours to be refreshed by his Father. And it is Jesus’ words of rest that should be the biggest encouragement to us:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30
When is the last time you felt that type of “soul rest” or intentionally stirred your affection for Christ?
Paul wrote four books of the Bible while in mandatory quarantine (see: prison). Joseph sat in jail for over a decade and crafted a CEO vision. Does this feeble article advance the Kingdom the way those two did? Certainly not. But writing cultivates my soul. Writing pushes me back to the Bible, and it makes me empathize with other perspectives. It stirs my affection for Jesus. I like to think God is pleased to see me using the gifts He has given me.
How do you cultivate your soul? When do you sense God is pleased with you?
If answering those questions is difficult, go lie down.
Be still.
Rest.