A common thread weaves its way through my heart in the space of waiting. One that is not yet familiar, but needs to become the thread that binds me closer with God.
A fabric with two threads manifests itself in the recesses of my mind. The faint fibers of these needs starts swishing, as whispers begging to be heard, with hidden answers to draw me closer into God’s arms.
I live in a space of waiting that feels frustrating, overwhelming, long, and uncertain all at the same time. Impatience walks me through my days and I create more chaos than stillness. I wrote about silence last week and know it is a work in progress that I have not mastered. I am learning that a quiet mind provides a space for God to enter and when I do not choose this, I have left Him out. We invite God into the quiet and His presence makes us whole.
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As God’s whispers reach my heart, I hear a call to rest and surrender. Both go against my usual modus of operandi, in that I am not good at either one. But good is not what I need to be. Open to learning and embracing is where I need to center myself.
I’m in a season of transition that looks like everything and nothing all at the same time. My heart and mind desire to stay busy because the world’s expectations demand a hurried busyness. I pull against the world in a constant battle of me versus it. Somedays, I find I am losing, but all days I hear another plea that goes straight into my heart. A cry to slow down, be still and rest.
Rest is not just a physical act that we intentionally indulge in each day. Rest is a freeing of our heart and mind. Am emptying of ourselves from ourself. A time to restore, heal and renew. Rest is the simple invitation for God to be present in our day and carry us through the night. Rest is the gift that God creates when we need Him to heal our brokenness with His grace and love.
God calls us to rest. God needs our whole heart, mind and body to function well as His child. His renewal is the salve for our weary souls.
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Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:30-31
But in this time of rest, God calls us to more. The complete emptying of ourselves to Him is the other piece to the puzzle that He is carefully crafting, one piece at a time. Surrender is the missing piece. Freeing ourselves of our junk, our messiness, and our burdens, is surrendering it all to Jesus. It is abandoning what the world holds dear and instead taking up the cross of Jesus, where we find the perfect surrender.
In the space of waiting, God knows what I need. Submitting myself to Him through a time of rest is how He will restore the balance and focus needed to move forward with what’s next. When I let go of my agenda, God will find the space to join me in the quiet. His presence, healing and grace will teach me and carry me toward His great plan.
So if you are wondering what I am doing in retirement, here is my answer. I am in a time of transition led by God. He knows I need rest and the chance to surrender all to make room not only for Him, but for what He has planned next for me. I am not following the world’s norms of staying busy, but I am opening my heart to hearing well, listening and following Jesus into my next!
May we surrender all to God as we seek to heal, restore and rest in His presence!
In grace and peace,
Mary
Linking with:
Thank you for sharing this word. I really need to find rest in Him this week as pain and frustration about necessary treatments have me weary. I love this scripture: Isaiah 40:30-31
God’s word is so filling as well as fulfilling and it is my life line. I pray you find rest and peace in God’s word. Blessings as you move past the pain.
Beautiful photo and words! You know I’m right there with you…thankful for the reminders we share! xoxo
I thought of you when I created the graphic and wish I had taken it at Crossnore. Instead, this is one of the few that I got for free but the colors are so rich. I am also thankful that we are walking together in this journey. Love you!
This combination of wait – which I have learned that the most important living occurs in the wait of a prayer sent out – and the rest in that wait. I’m in transition, too – and learning how to rest, how to crack open the quiet and sit in it with him. Praying that you find refreshing and quiet intentionally full of Him in your transition.
Amen to finding the quiet full of God’s loving presence. Waiting can be hard under any circumstance but when we invite God into the space of waiting we are blessed by His peace. I will be praying for you in your transition and ask God to join you in your own space of waiting. Blessings!
First, congratulations on your retirement! I always find it interesting that people ask someone who is retiring, “What are you going to do?” You spend your life working and doing, and yet, you’re expected to do more.
There are so many wonderful nuggets in your post. The whispers that beg to be heard. The picture of impatience personified-walking you through your days-hurrying you along, creating a whirl of chaos. How your transition looks like everything and nothing at the same time.
I know this all too well. Why does resting seem to create such turmoil in our lives when the opposite should be true? The resting should come easy; the work should create the chaos. Ah, that’s the beauty of our Savior-bringing the opposite of the world into perfect alignment in our lives.
Enjoy this time of transition, rest, and surrender. Lovely, lovely post!
Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing so openly what God is doing in your life. Rest, waiting, transition it’s not always that easy, but I know that our Savior is going to do a mighty work for you as he guides you through this new territory.
I think this “rest” that you are taking and talking about today, Mary, is exactly what I was trying to say about noticing our emotions back at my place. I know that God speaks much louder when we are still and rest in His embrace. Kudos to you for staying the course and not rushing God on what your next step is. You are a wise woman!
I was thinking that your words about noticing our emotions are a form of rest. If we don’t allow ourselves to be still, listen and reflect we will not be able to dig into our true feelings. For me, it is taking this time to allow God to reveal His plans. It can be frustrating for sure, but I am learning it is necessary. Keep praying as I try to stay the course in this time of transition. Always so blessed to have you here!
Mary,
Praying with you and for you that this can be a real time of rest, refreshment, and renewal. Sometimes we need to just be still and spend time with God (hard if you’re used to go, go, going), but necessary if we are going to have the stamina for whatever He calls us to next. He will make His path known…in the meanwhile sit and breathe Him in deeply.
Blessings to you sweet friend,
Bev xx
You said it perfectly – rest is necessary to have the stamina for what’s next. It sure seems like it is going to be something big then, right?? 🙂 I am always blessed that you take the time to stop by and encourage me. It means so much to me. Your prayers are appreciated and your friendship is a blessing!
Mary, love THIS: “A fabric with two threads manifests itself in the recesses of my mind. The faint fibers of these needs starts swishing, as whispers begging to be heard, with hidden answers to draw me closer into God’s arms.” It reminds me of a post I wrote last year called “Knotted, twisted and broken threads.” I’m not always good at resting either. But it is so very important. Praying for you friend during this time of transition.
I am learning the hard way the importance of rest. God does not give up on us so if He feels I need rest, I know there is a very good reason. I cherish your prayers, friend and I am praying you are feeling better!
Mary, thank you so much for stopping by and leaving such a thoughtful comment on my “rest is worship” post…it’s so neat when the Holy Spirit knits our hearts together with the same four-letter word…rest…He is sovereign, so in control of of the tiny details of our lives…while we rest…many blessings to you ❤️
I love how you said God is in control of the tiny details of our lives. Words I needed to hear! I also love how God connects writers to each other. I believe He is trying to get the message out to more people by connecting us. I pray we both learn the important message that God is teaching us about rest. Blessings!
Rest and surrender… Both so needed. Thank you for this encouraging post, Mary. “Rest is the gift that God creates when we need Him to heal our brokenness with His grace and love.” I love this thought. You have written it so beautifully. Waiting for what God’s plan is next isn’t easy. I pray He will guide your steps!
Your words are so kind and encouraging! Waiting is not easy but I need to look at how worth it will be when God reveals His plans. He’s in control and I’m not. A hard concept for me to wrap my brain around at times but one that will lead me to where I need to go. Thank you for being here and reassuring me in my journey. Blessings!
Beautiful, Mary. Transitions led by God aren’t always the easiest, but they are always the best. I applaud you for listening and waiting, no matter how uncomfortable it makes you at times! Trusting with you that He will reveal the next step when the time is right. 🙂
Thank you for blessing me today by being here and by reassuring me that God’s got this! It seems my job right now is to rest in God’s presence, listen well and surrender the junk to Him. Sounds easy enough, but I am such a work in progress. Praying that you have a beautiful week!
God has been talking to me about those as well although I imagine it would look a little different in our different seasons of life. Thanks for the reminder again today when my head was spinning with all I have to do.
We might be in different seasons but a call to rest can look similar for each of us. We need the space to allow God to enter and until we rest and surrender we cannot do this. I am thankful that you stopped by today and shared your heart. Blessings!
Hi Mary! I think we look at ‘rest’ as a time-waster. So used to moving all the time, the silence and lack of movement just seems unnatural. I understand your lack of ease in this time of waiting, I am not much of a ‘waiter’ either!
One thing that helps me to remember, is that in the spiritual life, we never are static. We are either moving toward God, or away. There is no middle ground. So even waiting can be steps forward, if we do it in faith. And you are certainly doing that. You may not be able to ‘see’ it, but you are making progress. Have no fear, rest quietly. God has plans you can’t see, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
Deep breaths…
Ceil
I am nodding my head in agreement with you right now. Too often I think of rest as a time-waster and it is hard to look past that. God is working hard on me to get past that stigma and to embrace the rest that I so desperately need. Thank you for encouraging me in this journey and for reassuring me that I am faithfully letting God work in me. I am blessed by your words and willingness to be part of this community with me. Hugs friend!
This is so beautifully true and deep! Love this!!
Thank you, Bethany! It is such a blessing to have you stop by today. Praying your new book is launching well into the world.
Oh how your words resonate in my soul! Have you been reading my mind, Mary? In being given the word ‘rest’ for this year, little did I know how hard I would need to plumb the depths of it and how needful it would be in every aspect of my life. These things seep slowly into our spirits as we gradually yield and surrender. Becoming beautiful truth such as you describe here: “Rest is the gift that God creates when we need Him to heal our brokenness with His grace and love.” Amen, my friend! So grateful for your sweet company on this journey. Blessings of peace and rest to you in the waiting. Xx
I am so thankful that we are on this journey together. It is always better together! God teaches us in so many ways and also realizes we need to hear certain things more than once. That is why we are on similar journeys. We need to hear each others words because ours are not enough. Love that we are together! Prayers and peace along the way!
Gorgeous new picture, friend! You’re a beauty … inside and out!
Appreciating this journey you and I are on together … iron is sharpening iron, we know we’re not alone, we know God has something for us.
And we wait.
And yes, it’s ok.
He always has lessons for us, is always inviting us to something deeper in the waiting room ….
I am seriously blessed by you and your willingness to walk with me. How lucky are we that God chose to put us in similar seasons at the same time. I keep imagining how wonderful it would be to be neighbors that we could share coffee and conversation. 🙂
Thank you for being in the waiting room with me. God teaches us so much but often it is through lessons we learn from each other. Hugs from across the miles!
Ahhh, the “s” word. Beautiful post, Mary.
I am not very good at the “S” word, Susan! God is doing a number on me today. He needs my full attention to prepare me for what’s next. Thank you for being here. You make my day brighter. Love you!
Such a beautiful post! I really got caught on the idea of clearing our mind, being still so God can fill us with more of Him, with His thoughts. I’ve been pondering the necessity of stillness and rest too. How our society rebels against it! I’ll join you in learning how to rest and to be still before our Father.
I’m your neighbor at A Purposeful Faith. 🙂
I am so glad you are joining me on the journey to find rest and quiet before God. I read your beautiful post and am affirmed how important it is to walk this path with others. I will be praying for both of us too as we let God teach us together the importance of seeking rest with Him. I am blessed that you stopped by today. I love knowing I have “friends” who will join me along the way.
This is a beautiful read this morning as I listen to the rain coming down! Oh, the world’s pressure to “stay busy!” As if busy were the goal, doesn’t matter what we’re doing, just as long as we STAY BUSY! I’m so glad you’re resisting that and taking time to rest, be renewed, and be LED during this transition time, Mary. You’re a light!
Trust me Betsy, it is hard! I can’t even wrap my brain around the future most days but then I step back and realize that it’s not my worry. God has already figured it out and I need to let Him do what He does best. Thank you for being such an important member of my community. I love having you here! 🙂