We are in a busy season, here in the Everson household. Packed in a way I could not have envisioned a year ago. At the end of September/beginning of October I staffed a weekend for Women’s Walk with Christ in North Carolina. Then Tim staffed a Marked Men for Christ weekend in Colorado. In between were soccer games and practices. School meetings. Vet appointments. You know, normal life.
Because normal life doesn’t stop when more is added on.
But sometimes you get a breath, a moment to pause, and I’m learning to grab onto those moments. Own them. Extend them. Use them in order to receive rest.
We are still in the busy time, but I find that I am able to move from action to rest much easier than I could even two years ago. This has not come easily. My MO is to go. To work. To work hard.
That hard work began for me when I was 8 years old and a classmate’s parent identified it in me. Other girls were stylish, funny, or pretty. I was the “hard worker.” I still am.
But God wanted to teach me how to STOP. How to cease my work in order to rest in Him.
I was honored to speak at my MOPS group Monday morning about God’s invitation to each of us to rest.
It turns out the Bible is full of rest. Days of rest. Years of rest. Redemption in rest. Hope in rest. The question is not can we rest, but will we rest?
Many things will try to stop us from receiving rest. Our sense of responsibility. Other people’s expectations. Our beliefs about ourselves that is tied into our productivity and our work ethic.
But Jesus loved us before we could do any of those things.
You can load and listen to my entire message for the mamas of PCC MOPS below. I hope it is a blessing to your soul. And I hope that this weekend you can receive God’s precious gift of rest.
“As we practice self-care we intentionally receive ourselves as God’s own beloved. Receiving this love into our bodies births the ability to give love and forgiveness to ourselves and others.”
-Adele Ahlberg Calhoun (Spiritual Disciplines Handbook)
What stops you from getting the rest you need?
How timely for me . I will make a point to listen. I love seeing your beautiful pictures too. Thank you Leah for sharing this.
Thanks, Joy! I’d love to hear your thoughts after you listen!
This was so good and encouraging!! Rest is much needed!
Thank you, Jennie! And I agree. Much much needed. I have to remind myself of that every day!