Soul Peace!

March 25, 2021

Soul Peace!

I feel a bit restless right now.  Life is good, work is good, and spring is just around the corner.  I don’t have much about which to complain.  But, there is a restlessness running around deep inside of me.

My soul is uneasy; it is a bit unsettled, a bit uncomfortable, a bit disquieted.  The restlessness might be described as a dis-ease in my soul.  The restlessness is an indication that my soul is thirsting for something more or something deeper or something divine.  I know my soul is thirsting for more of God. 

I am not deeply troubled by the lack of peace in my soul; it has happened before.  At the same time, it is important to pay attention to the restlessness.  The lack of soul-peace is an invitation to pay attention to the deepest part of who I am on the inside. 

Some people describe this soul-restlessness as; “I am trying to find myself.”  There is a sense that our soul is not quite at home…not quite at peace…not quite at rest.  My soul responds with restlessness or unsettledness or a deep yearning. 

The restlessness in my soul is an indicator the Holy Spirit is about to do something.  It will be something that impacts who I am on the inside; it will adjust something in my soul.  Although the shift in my soul is often initiated by the Spirit, I will be asked to cooperate in the work of the Spirit.  I am not a passive participant in soul work.

The Spirit’s work in my soul is nothing new.  I have been on a spiritual journey for long enough to know the Spirit will periodically invite me to make some adjustments at a soul-deep level.  Even now, my soul calls out for Jesus to do something new; to give me an answer to the restlessness in my soul. 

In Psalm 69:16-18 we hear the cry of the soul; “Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.  Do not hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress—make haste to answer me.  Draw near to me, redeem me, set me free…” 

I need the Spirit to draw near to me, to redeem me, and to set me free from the restlessness in my soul. 

However, I am not always ready or willing for what the Spirit wants to do.  Sometimes I am comfortable.  Sometimes I am happy.  Sometimes I am afraid.

I know from past experience that sometimes the journey is not easy; there are obstacles and nay-sayers, there are disappointments and distractions, there are a lack of opportunities and abandoned disciplines.  And yet, my soul still yearns to be at peace with God, at home with Jesus, and in tune with the Spirit.  It may not be easy, but it is something for which my soul thirsts.

I need to know God will be faithful to create in me what my soul needs most.  I am reassured by the Psalmist.  In Psalm 37:3-5 we hear; “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”

The Lord will answer and act; the Lord will give me “the desires of my heart (soul!).”  I need the Spirit’s encouragement.  At the same time, I will need someone to help, someone to encourage, someone to hold me accountable.  I will invite someone to take the journey to soul-peace with me. 

My journey to soul-peace may not be easy.  But, when I begin moving in the direction of God’s heart an indescribable joy and a deep peace will fill my soul.  When I engage in this journey with the Spirit towards soul-peace, my heart (my soul!) will take delight in the Lord. 

I invite you to join me on the journey to soul-peace by inviting the Spirit to work on the real you.

Take delight in the Lord! Doug