A RESTING PLACE

As a stay-at-home mom, I found myself in the position of going back to college.  I had been a teacher for 5 years before my children were born.  I stayed home for 7 years while they were pre-schoolers; but wanted to keep my teaching certificate active so I could return to work when they started to school.  So - off to college I went to meet the requirements of renewing my certification. 

The class I chose to take was Intermediate Accounting, which was in my field, but it had been a long time since I had taken an accounting course in junior college.  On the first night of class, the professor sounded as though she was speaking a foreign language.  In addition to that, she gave us a quiz to see how much accounting we remembered.  After the first night, I decided, for safety's sake, I'd better drop that course and try to find another one that would not be so far out of my league.  I called the professor and expressed my concern to her, adding that I knew VERY LITTLE of the information on the first quiz.  She encouraged me to hang in there, but I knew better.  Low and behold, when I called to drop the class, the drop-add period had elapsed and I was stuck!

So, I hung in there to the best of my ability.  Nevertheless, I was a nervous wreck approaching the first exam.  I studied and prayed - prayed and studied - and prayed some more.  I was agonizing and begging God to help me.  I asked everyone I knew to pray for me.  I just KNEW I was going DOWN.  Even after taking the exam, I didn't feel that I had done a good job and that I would surely fail the class. 

The night came for us to receive our grades.  I was literally shaking in my boots.  The professor knew of my concern; approached my desk cautiously and laid the exam on my desk face down.  As she moved away, she looked back to see my reaction to my grade.  When I turned the paper over I was flabbergasted to see “100” on the paper. 

I floated out of the room to my car.  As I was driving down the front drive of the college and topped the hill overlooking beautiful Pensacola Bay I heard the Lord speak to me.  "Don't you see you can trust me?"  Next time, why don't you trust me BEFORE the fact instead of AFTER the fact?"

Many times since then I have been reminded of the lesson I learned through this experience.  Whether the prayer is for a loved one’s health, a child’s rebellion, a financial need or any number of other situations, I can trust Him with it.  I can save myself much worry and distress by praying, trusting and leaving it in HIS hands.  Truly there is a "resting place" in God. 

 That night on the hill, I was inspired to write this song.

 A RESTING PLACE

There are times in all our lives when we are doubtful
That the Lord will really do what He says
We are fearful that He will not stand beside us
And we dread what we know lies ahead.

But I've found a resting place in my Lord.
I can trust Him just like it's written in His word.
And when the storms of life come by,
I can hold my head up high
For I've found a resting place in God.

There are times when there is no one else to turn to
And some things that we just cannot do alone
That is when we need to put our trust in Jesus
And we can find a resting place in Him.

Yes, there is a resting place in my Lord,
You can trust Him just like it's written in His word.
And when the storms of life come by,
You can hold your head up high
For there is a resting place in God.