Embracing Rest

I’m on a journey of discovering the importance of rest threaded into the overall balance of life and its daily demands. I mean, not the kind of rest where we sneak in that 20 minute nap between appointments because we’re all stretched too thin. The kind of nap we think might help mend the exhaustion from running around; time spent driving the kids, packing the lunches, going to work, meetings, homework, cooking and cleaning, and the list never ends...and can I just get another double shot grande coconut milk latte (I promise, I don’t normally make this an afternoon thing...FALSE). No, I’m talking about real rest - biblical rest. I am learning every day that this is a real thing. It’s the kind of rest where you force yourself to say no to things - and people. The kind of rest that forces you to own your schedule and leave room for margin, removing the distractions of social media, the news, and the unrest of life, and choose gratefulness in the mundane. The kind of rest where I don’t just notice beautiful things, but choose to experience them rather than allowing life to race by. Rest that is pure - where I give myself the gift of time and allow God to fill my soul and refuel me so that I can be a better wife, mom, friend, teacher, leader, etc. So that I can handle each and every stress with God’s grace and not my own depleted strength.

Why are we so busy all the time? So much so that we even feel the need to brag about it sometimes.  It’s almost as if we’re competing against ourselves to see how much we can handle and how much we can put ourselves and our family through. That’s right - everyone around is us is a victim of our choices. I’m okay handling less these days. I’m okay if we don’t commit to another extracurricular so we can have a few nights at home with the family. I’m okay with not forcing my family into a box of never ending appointments and commitments that leaves us all exhausted and stressed at the end of a very draining day. I’m okay not being busy so that I don’t feel empty at the end of the day. I don’t want that life any more. I just can’t.

What I’ve learned is that experiencing peace has allowed me to focus better and thrive in my various environments. It has given me clarity at work and allowed me to be more relational so that I can invest in others and their needs. It has allowed me to have grace for others’ shortcomings. It has ignited passion and given me clearer direction for my future. It has allowed me to further develop my God-given gifts so that he can better use me.

We can’t have more time, but we can definitely experience more joy in the moments that we have.

True rest is where we can experience real peace - peace that comes from God and God alone. It’s taken me over 30 years to learn this lesson and I am so grateful that I did.