How to Be at Rest When Life Swirls Around You
When all you can DO is thank Him
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
Psalm 103:2
Another popsicle. Another emergency cup of hot cider. Another coughing fit! Wow! That was a big one, but I made it through.
I sat on the edge of my bed in our makeshift infirmary, head in my hands, waiting for my breath to return after a significant coughing spell. I’d been battling Covid for a week. As I waited, I became painfully aware of something: Because of my weakness and limited concentration, I hadn’t studied my Bible (and prayer had been minimal) for eight days!
As I pondered a solution to this, my body still physically depleted, a profoundly simple (and simply profound) solution occurred to me: Just thank Him!
He goes before me
You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Psalm 139:5
Suddenly, thankfulness flowed from my heart as God revealed, piece by piece, the provisions He had made for healing and rest before my sickness even began. Several weeks before my illness, I felt Him pulling me back a bit. I saw physical and mental signs that I needed some extra TLC, and I heard God calling me to slow down.
My morning walks shifted from fast-paced workouts to relaxing strolls. I acquired a new desire to find quiet places to play and write music and worship. About a week before Covid began, I even felt nudged to ask local friends if I could use their ponds. I was offered access to nine ponds!
In my journal, two days before I fell ill, I wrote phrases the Lord was speaking to me, though I didn’t yet understand their significance.
- Called to rest
- Worship in rest and through rest.
- Push the pause button, even if it seems drastic.
- Take care of yourself, or your body will force it.
The gift of rest
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
In this fast-paced, frenzied world, we often miss God’s greatest gifts. We spin in circles, trying to solve our problems, burning the candle at both ends, wondering why we are tired and ineffective. Meanwhile, rest and self-care elude us for weeks, months, or years at a time.
In 11:30, Matthew reminds us that God’s yoke is easy. His burden is light. He didn’t create us to be frazzled and frenzied but to live with inward peace, dependent only upon Him.
A reset of rest
I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27
God doesn’t tell us to stop everything and hold down the couch all day. He does call us to sabbath rest, regularly stopping temporal pursuits to reset our eternal perspective. However, we can continue serving God and rest in His peace, presence, promises, and purposes at the same time. We can exhibit an attitude of gratitude and rest even when life swirls around us.
A lifestyle of being at rest
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
Psalm 46:1
I wish I could tell you that I am now an expert in living at rest. Truth be told, this is a recent revelation, and I am thankful for it. I am looking forward to more fresh understanding about resting in Him consistently.
We’re freshly out of quarantine at my house. In fact, today is the first day of everybody going to work and school! When it comes to Covid, I would not choose it, but I am thankful for the lessons He is teaching me through it. You’ll also be happy to know that the first visit in my “pond tour” is later this week.
Do you know how to rest even amidst life’s demands? Ask God to teach you to rest in Him. Then, quiet your heart, and listen for His answer.
Meet Denise Prosser
Denise is a music therapist from central Illinois. She and her husband have four daughters: 3 biological and 1 through international adoption.
As a new mom, Denise was surprised by how often she heard, “Oh, every baby (or mama) does that!” She realized that this experiential wisdom would save new mamas much guilt and learning the hard way. So, she made it her mission to share the practical and spiritual lessons she learns along the way.
Denise is passionate about pointing moms to Jesus! God imparts new lessons to us during each chapter and season of our lives. Denise desires to equip and encourage moms to walk toward the freedom and purposes for which God created them.
Where to find her . . .
Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.
If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.
Creating Ripples
If you would like to cultivate rhythms in addition to gratitude that will empower you live on mission in your neighborhood, check out Cultivating a Missional Life: A 30-Day Devotional to Gently Help You Open Your Heart, Home, and Life to Your Neighbors. This small book will help you make a big impact in your neighborhood as you learn to let missional living flow from the inside out. Get the 30-day missional living challenge free when you purchase the book.
