Straight from a Reset Heart
by Lisa Elliott
It is hard to imagine that it's been a year since my husband and I retired from full-time pastoral ministry. And what a year it's been! Full of: change and transition, house selling and house buying, packing and unpacking, upheaval and settling, connecting and reconnecting, adjusting and readjusting, even some forgiving and healing along the way.
People continue to ask us how our retirement is going. I'd have to honestly say that I feel like, given all the aforementioned, we're only now beginning to get the hang of it.
In fact, it was only recently, on a day trip to our favourite beach on the shores of beautiful Lake Huron, when my husband and I looked at each other and realized our newfound freedom. As we walked hand-in-hand along the boardwalk that stretched out seemingly endless before us, so too did our thoughts.
David commented, "Do you realize we are here, alone together, on this beautiful spring day, and it's not our day off, and we're not on holidays, and we didn't have to ask anyone's permission to enjoy a day away?"
Both of our hearts seemed to lighten at the thought of it. There was a spring in our step. The load lightened even more, with every step, as we released all the world's troubles and family pressures and church demands that we had grown accustomed to bringing along with us on days such as this in our past.
As the sun shone on our faces, the Son of God shone in our hearts, and we thanked Him for this long-awaited gift. Maybe it was time to reset!
Our lungs opened up to breathe it all in. Our spirits brightened. Our burdens lifted. Our souls rejoiced in all of God's goodness. And our minds opened up to dream about all that God might still have in store, fully recognizing that life is too short to miss today.
As we approached the end of the boardwalk and did an about-face, our conversation also turned a corner. We started discussing ways He might continue to use us for His kingdom business in the days that lie ahead. As many as He ordained for us to share.
We began to talk about the call the Lord laid upon our hearts after our son's death. That is, ministering to the grieving, specifically to grieving parents. Realizing we now finally have time for that to take place more intentionally.
We began to speak of how He is already opening doors to make the dreams He planted on our hearts fifteen years ago a reality, by also placing the ministry He has called us to on the hearts of others to invest in both prayerfully and financially. We see His hand all over it!
And, isn't that His way? He will never call us where He won't equip us. And He will never lead us where His grace won't sustain us.
As I ponderously looked out into the wide expanse of the lake, which is often roaring with crashing waves, I noticed how extraordinarily calm it was. And, right there on the shores of the deep, quiet waters, I experienced, not for the first time in my life, how my Good Shepherd was not simply stilling the raging storm inside of me, nor assuring me there wouldn't be more to come. But in this moment, He was leading me beside quiet waters and giving me opportunity to refresh, restore, and reset my body, mind, and soul.
I can say with confidence, along with the psalmist:
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:1-6, NIV)
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Need a little extra encouragement? Discover more inspirational blogs by Lisa Elliott, Straight from the Heart.
About this Contributor:
Lisa Elliott is an inspirational speaker and award-winning author of The Ben Ripple, Dancing in the Rain, and A Ministry Survival Guide. She’s also a writer for Just Between Us Magazine, theStory, and Good Ground. She and her husband, David, have four children (three on earth, one in heaven) and serve the Lord together in Stratford, ON, Canada.