This week began with busyness. By last Wednesday I finally felt “back” to full health, and the rush of renewed energy led me to power through the day—so much so that I even forgot to stop for lunch. At first, I chuckled at myself, but quickly realized this isn’t the right rhythm. Yes, it feels good to be strong and energized again, but God’s rhythm is not about running at full speed.
Resistance to busyness is one of the disciplines we’re called to embrace so that we can make space to delight in God and worship Him. I notice how easily the urgency of tasks—even the good ones—can take over. Some nights I even wake up with to-do lists in my mind, ready to go. And yet, I hear the Spirit gently reminding me: slow down. Read Scripture. Reflect deeply. hagah—chew on it.
Even my Sabbath wind-down on Monday became a small lesson. After watching the July Sumo tournament highlights, I caught myself scrolling social media. It wasn’t restful; instead, I felt more drained afterward. That experience reminded me again: not everything that passes the time prepares my heart for God.
A Heart for the City
During my time of Solitude this week, I found myself returning again to Luke 19:41–44, where Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. It is His city—God’s city—yet it is filled with people who do not know what brings true peace. His tears flow for those who wander without recognizing the peace that comes only from Him.
This scene stirs my own heart. Peace is not found in success, comfort, or distraction. It is found in shema-ing Jesus—loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, allowing Him to shape our worldview and our lives.
My prayer is that we, too, would receive His heart for the city—that we would not grow numb to the brokenness around us, but instead yearn for every person to know the peace that surpasses all understanding in Christ Jesus. May God open our eyes to see the city as He does, and soften our hearts to weep with Him for those still searching for meaning.
The Ancient Path of Sabbath & Solitude
This week I felt the Spirit draw me to Jeremiah 6:16:
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
What a beautiful reminder that when we come to crossroads—whether large or small—our choices are not meant to flow out of busyness or self-reliance, but from the deep rhythms of life with God. These “ancient paths” are not outdated, but eternal. They are the well-worn ways that lead us into life, soul care, and rest. And this email blog SignPost is the metaphor and embodiment of this—a marker pointing us back to the good way that brings life.
Dallas Willard once said, “Abandon outcomes to God.” This is profound because it pulls us back from the illusion of control. Ecclesiastes 9:11, Psalm 147:10–11, and Psalm 37:7 echo this posture: we are called to responsibility, yes, but never to self-sufficiency. When we slip into busyness and achievement for their own sake, we risk falling into what Willard calls “arrogant wrongdoing”—trusting in ourselves while pushing God aside.
Jesus’ call in Matthew 16:24 is clear: deny yourself, surrender fully, and follow daily. This is the way of His disciple. It is humility, not accomplishment, that forms us. It is obedience, not achievement, that honors Him.