Rest.
I don’t know about you but I’ve spent the last few months trying to recover from the stress of 2020 that bled into 2021 and is now working its way into 2022. Not too long ago, my life was characterized by stress and exhaustion.
I was so tired, and I didn’t even know it.
Stress and exhaustion are funny things. They sneak up on us and drain every part of who we are while we sit idly by and accept the feeling that “waiting for the other shoe to drop” and sleepless nights are normal.
It’s not until we hit our breaking point that we realize this is not the life we pictured for ourselves and certainly not the life of peace Jesus promised.
Thankfully, Jesus invites us into a different way of living regardless of our circumstances.
“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. 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. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
(Matt. 11:28-30, MSG)
More than anything, I wanted what Jesus was offering. Maybe you want that, too.
While our stressors may be different, our levels of exhaustion may vary, and our circumstances may differ, below are just a few things that helped me “learn the unforced rhythms of grace”:
- I journaled. I poured out my heart on paper and held nothing back. How do you start journaling? Just write. All of my entries start as a prayer…“Good morning, Lord…”
- I stepped away from social media and then culled my feed down to accounts that inspired or encouraged me. I got rid of the news and negativity because my soul was never meant to carry the weight of the whole world.
- I did REAL things. I practiced a different kind of mindlessness that didn’t include scrolling through social media or binging Netflix (no judgment). I read real books, lingered over one Bible verse, watered my plants, practiced hand lettering, took long walks, drank my favorite hot tea, sat outside, listened to music and napped…a lot.
- I practiced the “One Minute Pause.” I prayed one simple prayer: “God, I give everything and everyone to you.” Sometimes I would list what I was giving to Him and other times that one sentence was enough.
- I made decisions about what living “freely and lightly” would look like going forward. I controlled more of my time than I realized, and I made decisions to recover it.
Throughout it all, I kept company with Jesus and He gently helped me recover the life He died to give me…a life of inward peace.
“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]”. John 14:27 AMP
