In today’s hurried, worried, constant movement atmosphere, who has time to think about rest?! We’re simply too busy and when it comes down to it, there is too much to get done and not enough time in the day.
We just keep on pushing, drinking caffeine, pouring out, and continue to allow our lives to be overrun by our lack of boundaries.
We can’t say no.
When we do, we feel guilty and criticized for not being “selfless”.
If there is one thing I feel like God taught me during my month in Japan last month, it was rest.
It was a different month on the race. I had training to be a raised up squad leader for the first ten days. Visiting teams the rest of the month was strictly based on their odd scheduling, teams being separated for ministries, and trying to find transportation to get to them.
There was a lot of extra time for me to spend by myself in the surrounding woods and hiking trails on the mountainside we lived on.
At first I began to feel guilty, that I wasn’t doing enough ministry-wise or that I should be getting work done instead of “being selfish” and going to my happy place of solitude in the woods.
As I took the feelings of guilt to the Lord and diving deeper into the gift of rest I came to a fuller understanding of rest based on what He revealed to me:
- I need to be aware of the state of my soul and treat it with great care.
- I need to find and operate in the places of rest that He has wired in me (for me it’s being outside, having alone time, worship music etc.)
- To love others well I must first love myself – one of the ways I love on myself is finding the things that bring me rest because then I work out of a full love tank that is overflowing.
- Spiritual rest as well as physical rest are equally important.
- I need to do what it takes to get in those places that renew my spirit. Otherwise I will not be able to pour into others.
Ultimately, functioning through the presence of the Lord everyday is the only way to find true rest!!
As I move into a new season of leadership with the Race, I know I will have to continue answering the new influx of emails (no offense Hope – I love you! Haha), following up with squad mates, balancing relationships, Skype calls, spreadsheets, incident reports, blogs, ministry sites, pouring into and learning to love the squad well.
My spirit was renewed being out in the woods last month and I know it was a special gift from the Lord for me this year.
I read an impactful article of a man who said he intentionally puts aside:
one hour every day,
one day every week,
one week every month, and
one month out of every year
to focus on rest….
In the end, I realized I conquered a fear of doing what it takes to refuel myself, regardless of what others think of me…I now understand the importance of functioning out of a deep state of rest.
Whether it’s simply soaking in the quietness of the woods, or guarding precious time to steal away from chaos and be in the presence of the Lord, I am willing to say ‘no’ in order to say ‘yes’ for some much needed rest!
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest’.” Matthew 11:28
Jesus said, “Come…”
He will bring rest, but it is up to us to take initiative and go to Him!
How has God wired you…what are the things that refill you and bring renewal and rest to your spirit? How often are you allowing yourself to go to those places?!
