There’s a lovely song that showed up in my YouTube feed this past week called “Elizabeth” by Keith and Kristyn Getty. It’s about the story of Elizabeth’s waiting in the Bible – her longing and crying for more, the emptiness she endured awaiting a child, and the joy she lived to see. Some of the lyrics go…
Come and lay your head
On his promises
Oh find your rest
Elizabeth.
In so many ways I feel like Elizabeth and her story deeply resonates with me. It's been 14 years of longing for children with nothing to show for it and quickly approaching my 40s, feeling too old for the dream to come to pass, but knowing it somehow will if I keep the faith.
The winter is long, and I don’t know about where you are, but the sharp winds have come to my hometown this past week. I couldn’t help but think how the whipping winter winds were like the trials of waiting on God’s promises. Sometimes they’re still and silent. Other times, they whip you in the face, sting, and stir anxiety in you.
So I went and sought solace and peace in Eucharistic Adoration. Like always, I felt the peace of Jesus in my soul. Then I asked, “What next, Lord, to make your promises come?”
“Nothing,” He replied. “Rest. Just rest.”
Maybe you too have done all that you can do, you’ve prayed all the prayers you can pray, you’ve cried all the tears you can cry, and you just need to rest and lay your head on His promises, like Elizabeth.
Find your rest, Elizabeth.