Rest.
It’s my mantra these days.
I wish I had learned it better before now.
When the kids were at home.
When I was always trying to do, do, do and be, be, be.
When I was trying to satisfy people and satisfy my own perfectionism.
It’s why I’m so smitten with God in the Yard–spiritual practice for the rest of us by L.L. Barkat.
It’s why the word or concept of rest is a magnet for my mind.
Jody Hedlund wrote a great post yesterday called My Secret to Juggling Life in Ten Words.
She shared two principles that have guided her in the past. It was her third principal, recently added, that stopped me.
Live intentionally, clinging to what matters, letting go of the rest.
It takes times of rest to sense what is worth clinging to and what to let go.
Amy Sorrells posted a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning entitled, The Autumn. You must read it.
“Go sit,” Elizabeth says. “Sit still.”
And then Amy shared this verse.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
and work your fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys
giving rest to those he loves?
Psalm 127:2 (Message)
Scott Couchenour posted What Are YOU Doing With It? relating to prayer with some great quotes. And though he didn’t mention the word rest specifically, he shared three scriptures of Jesus rising early while it was still dark or withdrawing somewhere alone to pray. He shared this verse.
I can’t do a solitary thing on my own: I listen, then I decide . . .
John 5:30 (Message)
How can we listen?
How can we hear if we don’t stop long enough to hear Him above the din?
Finally, Pete Wilson posted a prayer by David Brainerd that he has lately claimed.
God let me make a difference for you
that is utterly disproportionate to who I am.
And he asked what prayer we prayed.
I responded.
Help me to rest in You so You can do the rest through me.
That is my heart’s desire.
I can’t do it all.
I can’t do it alone.
I can’t do it at all.
But He can through me.
I’m thinking of rest as an acrostic.
R elax. The more rushed we are, the more stressed we are, the harder it is to do.
E xpect. God has not failed to delight me with some kind of gift as I practice this new discipline.
S top. Just. Sit. Still. I sense Him in the silence as I work around the house or when I walk. But not as much as when I take my seat in the yard.
T ime. It takes time to slow down. It takes time to develop the habit. It takes time to sit in His presence.
I find if I don’t meet with Him first thing in the morning, it might not happen at all.
I find that I need an extended quiet time after completing a long project or after an especially busy season.
I’m finally grasping that rest is vital for my health or else I will be no good to anybody in the long haul.
How do you rest? Do you find it hard to rest?
Very well thot out post. Rest is something that is so often overlooked as weak. I go by this mantra: “We don’t rest from our work. We work from our rest.” this view of rest makes it more like an investment in the future.
Oh, I love that mantra and the idea of investing.
Thanks for sharing. I know all this, but I need to intentionally practice resting in God & His love!
The knowing is the “easy” part. It’s the doing that’s the kicker.
“Help me to rest in You so You can do the rest through me.”
That line, and your post, has me thinking about it in relation with “looking to Jesus” and “following Jesus.”
I know that paying attention to my heart and taking time in the word are both important in shat it might mean to follow Jesus.
But, now i am thinking that to slow down, take time to be aware, and hearing, may also be helped by times of rest in Him.
To rest and just humble myself belfore God, rest and talk to Jesus, or just plain sit down, be quiet…and rest.
It may be a small ammount of time needed throughout the day… to bring everything to a stop, so that there is less unthoughtful hurried pace to keep up.
Kind of like a stop light every few blocks might keep me from putting on the cruise control.
I like that analogy, Nancy. And you are taking some intentional steps in stepping back from the “noise”for a season. I wrote down a time schedule of sleep and quiet and exercise and study and writing and housework, etc. How did I ever think I could cram as much in a day as I used to? Crazy. Lucky I’m still here at all!
Hi Sandy!
I LOVE your post and your play off the word rest. I want to let go of the things that don’t matter. But I hadn’t thought of “resting” and allowing God to show me what those things might be. Thank you for your post, Sandy and your encouragement.
I need to incorporate your principle of doing it when I think of it. Except my brain is always thinking of things to do, so I need to undo some of that. 😉
You are an inspiration to me.
Thanks Sandy – just what the Lord was whispering to me this morning. REST. You always so it so beautifully.
Bless you!
Ahhhh. Some fuzzy socks. A cup of tea. 🙂
What a blessing of a compilation and thank you so much for includingy site in it! May you find rest &peace this Sunday!
Pouring that blessing right back on you, Amy. I love that benediction.
I’ve long adored rest, understood its value to me, sought it on a daily basis. Then came this situation, with a loss of control over my schedule. Much of the time, I feel like I’m in a whirl. It’s not my preference.
Perhaps I am learning that place of rest which I can carry within, no matter what happens. I’m still learning my lesson, so I’m not completely sure. And its a lesson I’m not liking.
I want things to return to my old normal. Will I stop wanting that one day? Or will my longing be answered?
Praying for you, girlfriend. I often long for the old “normal,” too. But then, I wonder, if that would cancel the change and growth of moving forward and finding His rest and peace in the midst. Leaning on Him with you.
Your words bring weary tears to my eyes.