I’ve written about the importance of chair-time & sitting down ‘on the inside’
But what happens when you can’t stop, when you can’t rest even when you want to?
‘Life, for most of us, feels like a movie we’ve arrived to forty minutes late’ writes John Eldredge in his book entitled ‘Epic’
We always seem to be in a hurry, multi-tasking to try to catch up with ourselves. Weeks go by at a frenzied pace, in a hap-hazard way.
It’s difficult when we feel that busyness is thrust upon us rather than chosen by us.
Yet if we don’t pause, we can burnout i.e. become emotionally & physically exhausted, detached from those around us & feel ineffective & unfulfilled even though we’re working hard.
‘Hurry always empties a soul’ wrote Ann Voskamp in ‘One thousand gifts’
It’s just as well that the God who created us , also created rest on the seventh day!
Rest. The dictionary defines it as freedom from activity, or a pause for relaxation.
The Italians speak of ‘dolce far niente’ – the joy of doing nothing! But,
‘There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want!’ (according to Calvin & Hobbs!)
We need to rest before we become exhausted. It’s not selfish to look after ourselves:
‘Self-care means giving the world the best of you instead of what is left of you.’ (Katie Reed)
‘You should sit in nature for twenty minutes a day. Unless you are busy…then you should sit for an hour!’ (Zen saying)
In Psalm 62:1 King David wrote, ‘My soul finds rest in God alone ‘
Rest is a Person- not a place!
For, true rest is found in God alone.
That’s worth repeating, so I can let the truth sink in:
True rest is found in God alone.
‘That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic.’
(Psa 27:5 MSG)
Jesus said, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me & you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest” (Matthew 11:28-The Message)
Real rest sounds very appealing, doesn’t it? Our God created rest on the seventh day of creation. A day of rest each week is actually a blessing given to us.
Tonight I read these words:
‘Sabbath is more than a day.It is a way of life,a conviction we order our lives around,based on what we believe about God. But mostly, it is a gift from God we cant find time to open,because we dont know what we’re missing’
(Keri Wyatt Kent- God Space)
God’s special day of rest is a time to:
-Relax
-Recharge our batteries
-Refill & refuel for the week ahead
-Nourish our souls
-Renew our minds
So, here I am, on this autumn Sunday listening to the rain softly falling down. I’ve had three days of enforced rest due to a viral illness. (I will have empathy when I’m diagnosing others with similiar this week!)
I must learn to rest before I am tired & embrace this welcome pause before another week starts to play out.
‘To pause between the notes of our lives turns noise into music. It’s called resting’ (Keri Wyatt Kent)
This is the day the Lord has made. Don’t load it with yesterday’s regrets or tomorrow’s troubles. Rejoice in the gift of today!’
(Max Lucado)
So,’Give up last weeks burdens, so you can head into the week ahead without them. Surrender all troubles to God & forgive yourself & others’ (Marianne Williamson)
Blessings,
Ruthx
Blessed! 