Our society values productivity, independence and occupation. We see it in how we greet one another:

“How are you doing?”   “Busy!” or even “Crazy busy!”

That is the norm, the expected. This is a conversation starter. But it is more than that. It is an indicator of what we look to for our identity and worth.

But there will come a point in time in everyone’s life when “doing” stops, maybe sooner, maybe later, maybe for just a short stint or a long while. But one day we will have to be quiet with ourselves. When we are still and quiet, where does our mind go?

Past regrets? Future anxieties?

Who are we in the quiet when we don’t put on the mask for others?

Who are we when our productivity dwindles? Is our identity rooted in what we have been “doing?”

Where do we go?

May we, like Simon Peter, say, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

Go to the Word, where we find the precious promises of God. If we are rooted and grounded in our identity as blood-bought children, beloved of our Father God, we can rest. And like Jean Sophia Pigott, the hymn writer who was born in Ireland during the Great Famine:

Jesus! I am resting, resting

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.

We can trust.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

I behold Thee as Thou art,

And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,

 Satisfies my heart,

Satisfies its deepest longings,

Meets, supplies its every need,

Compasseth me round with blessings,

 Thine is love indeed.

We can know that our situation and our worth don’t depend on career, vocation, relationships, acquisitions, productivity, physical prowess or beauty or any of the things we run to, the things that the world around us tells us will give us worth. But rather, when we discard the worthless rags of our own working and doing and are clothed in Christ’s work and righteousness, our Abba Father, Daddy God, looks at us as the apple of His eye and says, “This is my child, whom I love.”

And that is enough.