Resting is hard for me. Resting is not my best sport. Especially at home with all of my chores staring me in the face and mocking my every move.
When I am at home I cannot rest knowing that laundry needs to be done, dishes are in the sink, my closet needs a good cleaning or the kids rooms look like a cyclone has gone through them. I can always find something to do, I am sure you know what I mean.
Now, if I was in the Great Smoky Mountains in a cabin looking over the great outdoors I could rest. All my chores would be left behind in a town far away in Alabama and not right there in the moment. You know what I mean? Hey, by the way the Great Smokey Mountains needs you, make sure you visit. It is still beautiful and the locals need you to visit. But anyway, back to my story.
Rest is Hard
My point is….. rest is hard!
But, this past week we have rested. Can you believe it? Yes, you read that right. Even after the last paragraph I just wrote, I rested, we rested. Granted, we all felt a little crumby from our crazy weather in the South, cold one day, hot the next. Our sinus and allergies took a toll on us. But, more than anything we were exhausted. Exhausted from Christmas activities and lack of sleep from the weeks before.
I myself was exhausted from reflecting from the year before. 2016 was not terrible for us, but it was a year of change and growth. We stepped out in faith more than we ever had in our adult and married lives and it was challenging. It still it! The word for 2016 was “transition”. It was a transition year for sure. We transitioned in many ways. We went through a lot of changes. But most of all we grew. We grew as individuals, as a married couple and parents. We had setbacks and heartache, but we grew.
God’s Whisper
As I was reflecting and resting I felt a little guilty about letting my house slack, the laundry pile up and guilty of the endless supply of PJs I realized we owned due to us wearing them all day everyday for almost a week. When the guilt crept in I heard this soft voice saying, “take it in, don’t miss out on these moments.” The Holy Spirit always knows how to sooth those moments.
When I started thinking of all of the things that needed to get done I would hear that soft voice saying, “rest, you are going to need it.”
With the New Year ringing in my ears I cannot help, but think about all of the things I want to accomplish in the New Year, what God wants me to accomplish. I have no doubt that I need to rest up before all of this can happen. He wants me to rest, so I can be ready to hear from Him. To hear about His next move. I want to be His vessel and do what He has called me to do.
I cannot help, but relax and know that God has got this. God has got this year already mapped out and He knows the path my family and I need to take.
Why Resting Now May Be Crucial to Your Future
The point to this whole story is this…..
Rest.
When you feel the need to rest, do it. Listen to your body. Listen to God and know that He is getting you ready for something BIG. Something so big that you need to rest. You need to be alert and on point. You need to be ready for anything. I know God has had us resting for something big. I believe there is no coincidence that God had us rest right before the New Year. I know He has great things for our New Year. Great things that He can only help us accomplish.
Now I know everyone cannot take a whole week or even a whole day to rest, but rest in the small moments of life. Sit back and watch the kids play for 10 minutes, take a bath and rest your brain or better yet put away all of the electronics and bask in the brilliance of your own thoughts. Who knew?! Yep, you still have thoughts of your own! Can you believe it? Thoughts that are not influenced by others on Facebook or the rants on Twitter.
Think of the possibilities! Think of the things that God can do in the New Year and everyday. Think of the endless love that He can give and with that comes guidance. Let Him guide you this year. So rest up! This is your year to shine and do all the things He intended for your life.
Rest. Pray. Listen. Trust. Step out in Faith.
What is God calling you to do? Why does He want you to rest? Is He calling you for bigger things?
Until next time….
~xoxo
Mandi
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