SELAH: “A musical pause or interlude, a moment for reflection and contemplation.”
Life doesn't have a pause button, but I'd say summer is the closest we get to that.
Selah is a word that tends to be associated with pause or rest.
It's considered a “prayer” or “lift up."
Selah is found in the book of Psalms 71 times and in the book of Habakkuk three times in the Hebrew Bible.
Think about some of your favorite songs. Many songs, especially ballads, have this powerful interlude (all instrumental, no words) that leads to the big bridge where someone belts it out or the climax of the song hits.
It's the same way in our lives.
Sometimes the rest we need is a build up for the dream that God has placed in our heart to come to fruition. These moments require stillness; to sit with God, hear His voice and the whispers He puts on our hearts.
I have a hard time resting. I think a lot of us do. Even when I have days off, I'm going somewhere, constantly checking my phone (for what, I don't exactly know), working on a side project (like this), creating something or reading. I don't know how to be still.
When I lost my job in February 2022, it forced me to stop and rest. I heard God say “pause.” Because for someone like me, I immediately jumped into job searching mode, reaching out to people I knew who might need help with their businesses or side projects. But, it also reminded me that I didn't need to hustle more. I needed to be still.
Rest is just as important to the creative process as the creating is. If you're constantly scrolling social media, watching what others are doing, you'll never give your brain a break to just sit and write or find time to create something of your own.
I needed that “pause” season to get where I am now. To be ready to take on the seasons that were ahead of me. When the pauses come? Take them, soak them up and make the most of them.
I think there are multiple seasons where selah will come up in our lives. It's not just a ‘one and done’ deal. But, when they do, we have to pay close attention.
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