Resting the Soul: Trusting God with Outcomes

 

Summary

The cry of the soul is a profound expression of our innermost being, yearning for connection with God. This morning, as I listened to a bird singing outside my window, I was reminded of the beauty and mystery of a new day. The bird's song was not about making the sun rise but about acknowledging and praising it. Similarly, our souls are meant to sing praises to God, recognizing the gift of life and the opportunities each day brings.

In our fast-paced world, the language of the soul is often lost. We must pause and acknowledge that we are souls, and caring for our souls is our most important task. This involves being mindful of our souls and taking responsibility for their well-being, both individually and within our Christian communities. Our pastors and teachers play a crucial role in reminding us of this responsibility.

Dallas Willard emphasizes that once we acknowledge our souls, we can hear their cries. Unlike our bodies, which we often attend to, our souls can be neglected. Jesus recognized the soul's cries in the weary and burdened people around Him. He invited them to learn from Him, to find rest for their souls by yoking themselves to Him. Soul fatigue occurs when we become disconnected from God, leading to anxiety, envy, and ingratitude.

To combat soul fatigue, we must learn to rest our souls in God. This involves abandoning outcomes to God, accepting that we do not have the power to control everything. Humility is the framework in which all virtues come to life, allowing us to rest in God's goodness and greatness. By doing so, we can experience deep soul rest, free from anxiety.

John Wooden, the legendary UCLA coach, exemplified this principle by focusing on the contest against oneself rather than the outcome of winning. He taught his players to do their best and leave the results to God. Similarly, we must fight the battles we can and trust God with the outcomes. Our well-being is not at stake; our souls rest in God.

What outcome do you need to abandon today? Remember, you are not meant to carry the world on your shoulders. Let your soul's cry to God be one of His greatness and goodness. Guard your soul.

Key Takeaways:

- The soul's cry is a call to acknowledge and praise the beauty and mystery of life, much like a bird singing at dawn. This recognition is essential for spiritual renewal and connection with God. [00:47]

- In a world where the language of the soul is often lost, it is crucial to pause and recognize that we are souls. Caring for our souls is our most important task, requiring mindfulness and responsibility. [02:50]

- Soul fatigue occurs when we become disconnected from God, leading to anxiety, envy, and ingratitude. Resting our souls in God involves learning from Jesus and finding peace in His presence. [06:07]

- Abandoning outcomes to God is a profound act of humility, allowing us to rest in His goodness and greatness. This frees us from anxiety and enables deep soul rest. [08:23]

- John Wooden's focus on the contest against oneself rather than winning exemplifies the principle of trusting God with outcomes. We must fight the battles we can and leave the results to God. [10:38]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:33] - The Cry of the Soul
- [01:00] - A New Day's Gift
- [01:26] - The Soul's Song
- [02:05] - Noticing the Birds
- [02:34] - Acknowledging the Soul
- [03:32] - Responsibility for the Soul
- [04:22] - The Stream of Your Life
- [05:09] - Jesus and the Soul's Cry
- [06:07] - Soul Fatigue
- [07:08] - Resting in God
- [07:50] - Abandoning Outcomes
- [09:06] - John Wooden's Example
- [11:09] - Trusting God with Outcomes
- [12:20] - Guard Your Soul

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
2. Matthew 9:36 - "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

Observation Questions:
1. What does the bird's song symbolize in the sermon, and how does it relate to the cry of the soul? [00:47]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of pastors and teachers in caring for souls? [03:18]
3. What are some signs of soul fatigue mentioned in the sermon, and how do they manifest in our lives? [06:38]
4. How does John Wooden's coaching philosophy illustrate the principle of abandoning outcomes to God? [10:38]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 relate to the concept of soul rest discussed in the sermon? [07:08]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that soul fatigue differs from physical fatigue, and why is this distinction important? [06:07]
3. How does the sermon interpret the idea of "abandoning outcomes to God," and what does this reveal about the nature of humility? [08:23]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of recognizing and acknowledging our souls in a fast-paced world? [02:50]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt overwhelmed. How might abandoning the outcome to God have changed your experience? [11:51]
2. Identify a specific area in your life where you experience soul fatigue. What steps can you take to reconnect with God and find rest for your soul? [06:38]
3. Consider the role of humility in your life. How can you practice humility this week by trusting God with the outcomes of your efforts? [08:23]
4. Think about a time when you were focused on winning or achieving a specific result. How can you shift your focus to doing your best and leaving the results to God, as John Wooden did? [10:38]
5. What daily practices can you incorporate to ensure you are mindful of your soul and its needs? How can you make time for these practices in your busy schedule? [02:50]
6. How can you support others in your Christian community in caring for their souls? What role can you play in encouraging soul care among your peers? [03:18]
7. Reflect on the beauty and mystery of life as described in the sermon. How can you cultivate a sense of wonder and gratitude in your daily routine? [00:47]

Devotional

Day 1: The Soul's Song of Praise
Our souls, much like the bird singing at dawn, are designed to acknowledge and praise the beauty and mystery of life. This recognition is not about influencing the world around us but about aligning ourselves with the divine rhythm of creation. In a world that often drowns out the subtle language of the soul, it is vital to pause and listen to this inner song. By doing so, we open ourselves to spiritual renewal and a deeper connection with God. The soul's cry is a profound expression of our innermost being, yearning for this divine connection. [00:47]

Psalm 104:33-34 (ESV): "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord."

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally pause today to listen to the song of your soul and acknowledge the beauty of life around you?


Day 2: Recognizing Our Souls
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, the language of the soul is often lost. It is crucial to pause and recognize that we are not just bodies but souls. Caring for our souls is our most important task, requiring mindfulness and responsibility. This involves being aware of our spiritual needs and nurturing them, both individually and within our Christian communities. Our pastors and teachers play a crucial role in reminding us of this responsibility, but ultimately, it is up to each of us to tend to our souls. [02:50]

Ecclesiastes 12:7 (ESV): "And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it."

Reflection: How can you create a daily routine that prioritizes the care of your soul, even amidst a busy schedule?


Day 3: Resting in God's Presence
Soul fatigue occurs when we become disconnected from God, leading to anxiety, envy, and ingratitude. Jesus recognized the soul's cries in the weary and burdened people around Him and invited them to find rest in His presence. Resting our souls in God involves learning from Jesus and finding peace in His presence. It is about letting go of the burdens we carry and allowing God to refresh and renew our spirits. This deep soul rest is essential for overcoming the fatigue that comes from being disconnected from our Creator. [06:07]

Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.' But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'"

Reflection: What burdens are you carrying today that you need to lay down at the feet of Jesus to find rest for your soul?


Day 4: Abandoning Outcomes to God
Abandoning outcomes to God is a profound act of humility, allowing us to rest in His goodness and greatness. This act of surrender frees us from anxiety and enables deep soul rest. It involves accepting that we do not have the power to control everything and trusting that God is in control. By doing so, we can experience peace and contentment, knowing that our well-being is not at stake. This trust in God allows us to focus on the present moment and the tasks at hand, without being consumed by worry about the future. [08:23]

Proverbs 16:3 (ESV): "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."

Reflection: What is one specific outcome you are currently trying to control that you can surrender to God today?


Day 5: Trusting God with Outcomes
John Wooden's focus on the contest against oneself rather than winning exemplifies the principle of trusting God with outcomes. We must fight the battles we can and leave the results to God. This mindset shifts our focus from external success to internal growth and faithfulness. By trusting God with the outcomes, we can experience a sense of peace and assurance, knowing that our efforts are not in vain. Our well-being is not at stake; our souls rest in God, who is faithful and just. [10:38]

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from external success to internal growth and faithfulness in your current endeavors?

Quotes


The very first thing we must do is to be mindful of our soul to acknowledge it, because we live in a day where the language of soul is so often lost. It's very important to just pause now and to recognize you have a soul you are a soul. It is necessary to take the soul seriously and deal with it regularly and intelligently. [00:02:44]

We must be sure to do this for ourselves individually and in our Christian fellowships. Our pastors and teachers must emphatically and repeatedly acknowledge the soul as the living center of life that it is, and they must reassume their responsibility for the care of souls long assigned to them in Christian tradition. [00:03:12]

Once we clearly acknowledge the soul, we can learn to hear its cries, because the soul cry but, unlike our bodies often which we might be quite aware of, it's very easy for us to neglect our soul to miss it like we miss the sunrise. Jesus heard its cries from the weary humanity he saw around him. [00:04:41]

He saw the soul's desperate need in those who struggled with the overwhelming tasks of their life. Such weariness and endless labor was to him a sure sign of a soul not properly rooted in God, a soul in effect on its own. He saw the multitudes around him in a taurus heart for they were distressed and downcast. [00:05:09]

The great danger to us is soul fatigue. This is different than just physical fatigue bodily fatigue we may often be tired we may often be busy have many things to do Jesus was, but soul fatigue is when I become disconnected from God, and then I become vulnerable to anxiety because I think I'm in charge of keeping myself okay. [00:05:56]

What we learn primarily from Jesus is to rest our soul in God rest to our soul is rest in God. My soul is at peace only when it is with God as a child is with its mother, so my rest finds soul during the day as I go from one moment to the next like this moment right here now God I'm talking to my friends. [00:06:52]

What we most learn in his yoke beyond acting with him so that's number one we act with him but then beyond that what we must learn is to abandon outcomes to God, accepting that we do not have in ourselves in our own heart mind strength body and soul the wherewithal to make this come out right whatever this is. [00:07:37]

Humility is the framework in which all virtues come to life. We simply have to rest in his life as he gives it to us. Knowledge from Christ that he is good and great enables us to cast out comes on him. Resting in God we can be free from all anxiety which means deep soul rest. [00:08:18]

John Wooden won 10 titles in the space of 12 years, most successful coach of all times. It's very striking I was reading a book about him not real long ago and it quoted a number of his players Kareem Jabar Bill Walton and others and numbers of them said this about John Walton they said in their careers in the NBA. [00:09:56]

What he said was the great contest is the contest to do your best it is the contest against yourself, against the sloth or fear or apathy that could keep you from bringing your very best efforts to the fellow members of your team. That's the battle that we fight, and then the external score winning or losing in that sense would take care of itself. [00:10:40]

We were to fight the battle that we were able to fight and then we leave the outcome to God we're very aware of outcomes we allow them to guide us when we're not being effective we change we do that quickly we do it with great urgency but our well-being is not at stake, our soul rests in God. [00:11:21]

So now what outcome do you need to abandon today? What cars coming down the road you just got to let it go by, you are not meant like Atlas to carry the world on your shoulder, your work, your finances, your health I think of somebody today going through surgery for a very very serious condition, your child, whatever it is. [00:11:47]

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Transcript
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