The Importance of Resting & Being Still

                     

9 times out of 10 when I see the word "Rest" I shudder. I dread that word the way some people dread the word "submission." That is until I get to a point where I am so overwhelmed and so tired that all I want to do is quit everything and go on a vacation with just me and Jesus (sounds like the perfect escape, right?). Still trying to figure out exactly why, but I do. Part of me believes because somewhere deep down inside I think that I am superwomen and can or have to accomplish everything at that moment. I also easily fall into the trap of feeling like I have no time to rest because there's so much to do, that is until my body forces me to rest. That usually happens because I get to a point where I'm so mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted that I crash. Another part of me knows it's because that's the example that was set by mom but I also recognize that I have the opportunity to break that generational curse. I also have problems with feeling the need to be in control at times and that in order for (insert task here) to be done right it has to be done by me but that's another topic for another day. To be honest I'm a borderline workaholic at times. This is exactly the reason why I need God in my life because I have so many issues and areas that I need His help in daily. I'm so thankful that I'm still under construction and He is continuing to work in my life.

As I'm sitting here writing this I'm actually getting over a cold and I can't help but ask the question "how did I get myself in this place again?" I was doing so well over the past few weeks. I mean I've been exercising, cooking more at home, drinking more water, etc. everything except resting. I barely got 5 hours of sleep each night Tuesday-Friday last week and anyone who knows me I need at least 7 hours to function correctly. My schedule is super busy and crazy because I teach for 6 different dance organizations 5 days a week, babysit 3x a week, and run the women's ministry at my church. That's not in addition to trying to find time to hang out with friends or stay in contact with my family who lives 700+ miles away. It's not that I had to stay up that late last week. In fact the Lord showed me today that had I planned out my week better I could have gotten the sleep I so needed and desired. It's my lack of poor planning and discipline in certain areas that caused me to end up so sleep-deprived and eventually sick.

Another problem I tend to have is not taking care of myself. It may sound silly but it is true. I'll run myself ragged trying to help everyone else that I neglect taking care of my own temple. Over the past few months the Lord really has being showing me that if I don't first take care of myself I can't really be of use to anyone else. That includes resting, exercising, eating healthy, and doing something nice for myself each week (doesn't have to be expensive), and most importantly spending quiet time with God. I can't continue to pour out to others if I don't first let Him pour into me and when I do try to I always end up super exhausted or irritated when others ask for help. But the days when I make spending time with Him and taking care of myself a priority I end up being so eager to share the Lord's love, light, and joy with everyone I come into contact with. I am able to be more focused on others more than myself because both my spirit and body are in top shape.

I'm learning that I don't have to say yes to every opportunity that comes my way. I used to have a real big problem with feeling like I couldn't say no to people until God showed me that if I constantly say yes to everything I won't be available to do what He really wants me to do because either I'll be too tired or too busy. So I'm learning to pray and ask God if whatever opportunity has presented himself is something that He wants me to do or not. Sometimes we end up working on projects that God never intended for us to take on and we actually end up robbing someone else of using their gifts and talents in that particular area. We don't have to do it all and weren't called to do it all. That's why the Lord has blessed us with different skills, gifts, and talents. We all have a unique and particular part to play in the body of Christ and it's so important that we learn to stay in our own lane.

Resting is Biblical. I mean look at God, even He rested on the 7th day. If God who is Sovereign and all powerful took a day to rest than that means I definitely need to sit my tail down and rest. I'm learning to take time as I go throughout my day for "rest breaks." Even if it's just 5 minutes to take a deep breath, be still, and acknowledge God's presence. Just to thank for all that He's done so far and ask Him to give me strength to continue on with my day. It's literally amazing how better I feel after even that short amount of time. Those breaks aren't in place of my quiet time with God but in addition to it. Oh and if you have found yourself in a season where you believe that God has called you to rest, please be obedient and do so. I found out the hard way that when God tells you to rest it's because whatever He has planned for you next will keep you super busy and you will have wished that you had rested when He told you to.

When we are rushing through life, going from here to there all the time, it's so easy to forget that God is with us. He didn't design us to rush around 24/7, 365 days of the year. We end up starting to complain, we become discontent, we worry, we stress, or we become impatient. Anytime I start to get anxious, stress, worry, or become impatient I somehow always come across the Scripture:

 "Be still and know that I am God..." -Psalm 46:10. 

 It's during those moments of being still that God is able to remind us just how faithful He's been in the past and we are able to reflect on His glory and the love, grace, and mercy that He showers upon our lives daily. It's how we are able to keep our eyes centered on Him and not on our circumstances.

If you have to make daily to do lists to help you prioritize your life, then do it. If you need to create yourself a schedule and put "rest breaks" within it, then do it. Ask the Lord to show you what you need to do in order to make time to be still in your day and He will be faithful to show you. The Lord longs to actually help us but we have to take the first step in disciplining ourselves to seek Him and wait patiently for Him to act.

A book that is really helping me through this process is "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanna Weaver (talk about conviction). As you can probably guess by the title, it uses the story of Martha and Mary in the Bible to reiterate the importance of staying at the feet of Jesus and making Him our priority even amongst the busyness of life. I would highly recommend this book to every woman out there, especially those who tend to lead busy lives!

                                           

To be honest, I can get so busy doing things for God, that I neglect spending time with Him, which should never be the case. God will always give us the grace to complete the tasks that He has set before us and they will never require us to neglect our time in His presence. In fact when we spend time with Him, the Lord is able to help us prioritize what really needs to be done and what can wait until another day. I know that our world is chaotic and our lives are super busy but let's strive to find those quiet, intimate moments with God throughout our days. To tune out the "noise" of the world and allow God to replenish our souls, give us the wisdom to make the right choices, and the strength to endure. I know that we will be amazed at how faithful at how God will be to us if we remain focused on making Him our priority.


Until next time,

Cierra xoxo