There is always an endless to do list but it’s still O.K. to chill out and just be! It’s okay, even optimal to take a moment to reflect on our lives rather than just barreling through them.
I’m not one of those people for whom the idea of rest comes easily. I struggle with slowing down. I have a relentless agenda of things that need to get done. Even though my soul loves the benefit of rest.
I’ve wasted so much time in my life running myself ragged wondering if I measured up. I had to pull a 4.0 grade point average, be president of every club, struggle for first chair in band etc. feeling like I needed to be more in order to be loved. As I became an adult it became it my weight, housekeeping, or my parenting and I made myself neurotic trying to prove that I was worth something.
One day in my late twenties, after chasing two preschoolers all day, cleaning up the same mess again and again...and wondering why I agreed to not only host a Bible study group but to lead it, I collapsed in a heap of exhaustion. The words of Matthew 11 echoed in my head, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
I had just yelled at my kids for being kids and now they were cowering in their rooms. Feeling guilty, discouraged, and wondering why I felt so compelled to be Superwoman, I picked up my Bible to read what I had remembered from Matthew: “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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’ were the words from Matthew 11:28-30.”
I realized that in that moment God was showing me that I am not a human doing—I get to be a human being! What a relief!
Here is that section of Scripture in its entirety from the The Message: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
I was laying heavy and ill-fitting trips on myself. Lord was saying, “You don’t have to be Superwoman any more.” Thank goodness because it’s way too much work to stay looking good in those tights! As the Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 2 to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. It has been the work of my salvation to learn how to rest! And I’m still a student! Check out more to this story at https://www.facebook.com/answersfrommomanddad