I have always been a busy body.
I remember being in elementary school and running around to different extracurricular activities every day after school (sometimes multiple a day). I’ve never enjoyed sitting still and would much rather be busy doing something with friends or family. This pattern of staying busy continued to grow as the years went on. Throughout the past few years I would pack my daily schedule so full to the point of having little to no room for rest (or sometimes even breathing or sleeping if I’m being honest). I always had the “I’ll rest when I’m dead” mindset, until now.
This month the Lord has been teaching me a lot about the meaning of rest. My ministry is only 4 days a week for about 4 hours each day, leaving lots of down time throughout the week. At first, I really struggled with what I was supposed to do during all of my off time. I felt like staying home and resting was a waste of time when I could be going out and ministering to the community. When I thought of “rest” I thought of naps and laying around not doing anything. I knew those things would drive me crazy so instead I would just avoid them.
God quickly showed me how important rest is. I learned that there is a difference between physical rest and spiritual rest, both of which are super important. Your body needs physical rest. Getting a good nights sleep is important so that you can maintain the energy needed throughout the day. But just like physical rest, you need spiritual rest. Imagine yourself holding a cup of water and running around filling up other people’s cups with it. If you don’t pause and allow your own cup to be refilled you eventually run out of water and cannot fill others cups. In the same way, we have to rest in the presence of the Lord and allow Him to fill us, so that we can pour His love and truth into others lives.
There have been so many times where I have let my busyness rob me of my time spent with Jesus. I notice a big difference in the days where I pursue spiritual rest, and the days where I let other things get in the way. My days are exponentially better if I start them spending time with the Lord. I find rest in his promises while reading His truth and praying over my day.
So, I encourage you to pursue spiritual rest no matter how busy life gets. Figure out how you find rest and keep it a priority in your life.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29
Joyfully His,
Lizzy B
