For Christian women, learning the power of pause can be a powerful tool to grow in Christ and the inviting life.
This episode was recorded in the fall, when many are going back to school or refreshing our schedules after summer. Maybe you’re in that seasonal switch, or just feeling overwhelmed with the demands of everyday life. Maybe you’re even feeling really accomplished, but need to remember God’s goodness even on the “mountain tops.”
No matter the time of year, we all need to practice the power of pause, to open our eyes and ears and re-set our hearts on God’s sovereignty in a world that often seems out of control. In living the “inviting life,” God doesn’t need us to welcome Him; He will do what He will do. BUT, there is so much joy when we do!
Recently, my husband and I went on a getaway with dear friends and ministry partners. Our mini retreat fell between two major events at Camp Bethel, where we serve. The timing of the trip didn’t make, as my grandma would say, “a lick of sense.” Still, we were nearing the end of a stressful season and preparing to shift gears, and we knew we needed it. So we headed off with our friends for a few days to laugh, stay up late, and enjoy each other’s company. We slept in and had bacon and eggs for breakfast. We shopped and played games, and spent time talking through ministry goals for what would come next. Most of all, we used the time to get REST FOR OUR SPIRITS.
There’s a cool word in scripture: Selah.
It’s used 71 times in Psalms, and it has connections to musical or poetic use. While scholars debate its actual meaning, the general consensus is that it means some variation of, pause, praise, or “pause to calmly think about that.”
It’s also used three times in Habakkuk 3, where I think we can pull some meaning that applies to our everyday life, and our need to learn the power of pause as we go about our calling to the #invitinglife.
Habakkuk 3:1-2 says, “O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy. God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah.”
In verses 8-9, the author Habakkuk uses the word selah following a recap of God’s righteous anger in the face of defiance against Himself and His people.
Verses 12-13 say, “You marched through the earth in fury; you threshed the nations in anger. You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked, laying him bare from thigh to neck. Selah.”
Verses 17-19 finish with, “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”
The creation imagery is a reminder of God’s reign over creation. The repetition of “selah” in this chapter seems to recognize this with awe and a proper sense of fear, along with humble praise for God’s wrath over sin and protection for His people.
We can set up wise patterns in our life that foster worship and rest by practicing pause. We give Him proper credit when we take time to contemplate His glory. (See this idea explored in how God’s excellence is displayed in beauty in Episode 14 Beauty & Worship.) We may appreciate God’s glory, provision and protection especially when we practic “pause” amidst hardship.
Here are some ways we can practice the power of pause:
(Indulge me as I use a little alliteration to give us ideas!).
- Pray – talk to Him!
- When we begin with talking to God, we can acknowledge what we know of Him, and His rule over this world and our lives. It puts us in a proper place of humility and helps us have a right perspective of what surrounds us.
- Process
- Consider doing a brain dump; write out everything you have on your mind, and every responsibility or task you think you have. Put it all in one place so that you can see what you’re facing.
- Prioritize
- Start with the Word/time with God and what He says are your priorities. Make those things that go on your actual “to-do” list and let everything else wait.
- Cross out what can go or wait till a later time. If you want to hold on to tasks and ideas, consider physically moving those to another sheet of paper, tucking it into the back of your planner or in a folder you’ll address down the road.
- Consider journaling as you go, documenting how God shows you His direction in scripture, and creating a record of where you start and how you grow.
- Plan
- The actually plug the things God seems to be leading you to prioritize into your schedule. Be reasonable about what can be accomplished in a given amount of time (preaching to the choir here!), over-estimating what you can accomplish in a given window.
- Want more tips? Sign up for my free biblical planning course here and join the free email series with videos and planner page that can help you put these ideas into practice!
- Play
- Get away if you can, for a few minutes or hours, from your to-do list. Laugh, do something with your hands, get barefoot in the grass, get sunshine or spend time with a trusted friend.
- If at all possible, avoid screens – scrolling and absorbing more “input” can make you more tired! I’ve personally found that being “plugged in,” whether it’s to my email, social media, or even a show, can sometimes give a false sense of having experienced or done something I haven’t, influence my moods, or distract me from a sense of peace that comes from being unplugged.
- Proceed
- After you’ve really “pressed pause” with these steps, start moving toward the plans you’ve thoughtfully made. And keep coming back to repeat – to press pause – and consider God’s majesty and your place in His kingdom.
We talked about “selah.” There’s another cool word in the New Testament – the Greek word Pauo (pronounced “pow-o”) – which means to to stop, or to cease.
It’s used in 1 Peter in a command to to stop SINNING. (source)
It’s also used in Luke 8:22-25 in a story about Jesus – “One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
When life presses in and we are fearful for ourselves, whether literally or figuratively, we can remind ourselves that God maintains sovereign rule over all creation. We can press pause and know that He will never leave us or forsake us, and that our lives are in His keeping (if we are children of God in Christ)!
Our little puppy Biscuit is a little furry ball of energy. When I’m rushing around trying to accomplish anything, she’s always right at my feet. Maybe the funniest quirk of hers is that when you walk toward her she often flops onto her back, pleading with her actions, “rub my belly.” She feels completely safe, in the midst of chaos, to yield her belly to us. It’s kind of the WORST when she’s gotten into trouble and she does it; she knows she’s loved despite it and because she is loved, we give her what she wants.
Flop at His Feet
Do we feel this complete sense of safety and love from our Heavenly Father? Have we spent enough time in His story and at His feet to know that no matter what is happening around us, we can flop at His feet and revel in His goodness? Yes, there are times when He will discipline us, but in every season, we can drop and worship Him, and rejoice in His goodness toward us, in His God-ness, His rule over creation and His kindness and fierce protection toward His children.
Wherever you are in this season of life, I dare you to make “selah” a part of your daily rhythm. No matter what’s happening, let’s make space to pause, rest, and revel in God’s glory. And let’s “pauo,” stop everything – or cry out to God to save you when you feel like you might not actually make it – because He has the power to do so. Flop at His feet – make space for Him to do what He will do.
Resources mentioned:
- A Grace-Filled Beginning free planning course
- Episode Beauty and Worship – The Ultimate Welcome
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Inviting you to invite… – Angela
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