This past week brought rain off and on and sticky, humid temperatures that have been more conducive to inside activities rather than outside summer fun. As the week progressed, I realized that even with extra time on my hands, rest is not my friend. I am not good at giving myself the gift of rest or allowing it to be an integral part of my daily schedule. My body still feels as if it is in the middle of the school year with deadlines, paperwork looming and specific schedules to follow. Reality has not caught up with the part of me that craves rest and a regular rhythm.
As a newly retired teacher, I have an endless summer to fall into a rhythm, but the desire to create this sooner is strong. I began to reflect on those things that bring me a sense of peace. When peace enters our daily lives, the rhythm of rest arrives in the letting go and the slowing down. I began to make this list of images that soothe, renew and bring a slow down and steady rhythm…
The steady beat of rain against the bedroom that lulls me back to sleep
The warm summer winds that cause the trees to sway in a slow dance with no music
The bursting of the sun as it appears above the horizon in a glorious welcome for a new day
The chance to curl up on the couch with coffee and a good book
The blank slate of a calendar that doesn’t presume anything and opens your day to new possibilities
[Tweet “Rest enters our lives when the peace of God’s word becomes our truth.”]
Each rhythm, each beat, each picture left me wanting rest, not just in one moment, but in a way that frees up my daily schedule to let peace enter in.
Several questions continue to haunt me – where do I find rest? Will I know it when I find it? How do I embrace rest and renewal as my mind continues to race through each day? A look at God’s Word is all it took to find the answers embedded in the many promises He extends to His children.
God promises us we will find rest in Him.
Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him. Psalm 62:1
God promises that in choosing the good way, we will find rest for our souls. Reaching outside of ourself will take our eyes off us and instead focus them on the God of rest.
This is what the Lord says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16
God promises that in our weariness, we will find rest. The yoke of grace and truth is light. Allow God’s yoke to become yours and renewal will follow.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Finally, God pulls us through our weariness, messiness and busyness by His restoring grace. We come out stronger on the other side because we allowed God to lead our daily rhythms rather than trying to plan it all ourselves.Â
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:10-11
Each promise of rest starts with God and His Word. The choice of allowing the rhythm of rest into our lives begins with God’s Word in our hearts and God’s praises on our lips.
How do you seek the rhythms of rest in your daily life?
In grace and peace,
Mary
This is part of a series on the promises of God. Click here to catch up with any missed posts. #Godspromises
Linking this week with these wonderful ladies at…
Susan #DanceWithJesus
Mary,
I think my heart rate just slowed a bit. PEACE – His exquisite peace prevails here, now. THANK YOU!
Susan
Thank you Susan! I am blessed to be part of community with you and your presence here is always a gift. May we all slow down long enough to feel peace in our day.
Oh I wish I could say I was seeking rest right now. My brain is full and my body aches, and I’m just tired, but I’m not resting. I believe it does start with renewing my mind continually in His Word, and just sitting at His feet enjoying His Presence!
Amen! I know I went through my whole last school year on autopilot and never quite felt like myself. I am working hard to let God lead me in this new phase in my life and one of the things that I need to do is care for myself so that I am strong to do what God is asking. I love knowing that I am not alone in this process but that God as well as good people like you are surrounding me. Love you!
Sometimes our bodies yearn for the rest it deserves.
Take things easy Mary and give your heart and body sweet rest.
God bless you and do enjoy a relaxing weekend.
Thank you for these beautiful, renewing words. My weekend was spent resting with God with two wonderful women at a Beth Moore Conference. I was blessed by how the Holy Spirit’s presence was so powerful. Blessings to you too!
This is beautiful. Times I couldn’t sleep are those when I worry too much. And worrying is not of God’s.
Actually we need to let go of our worry and give it to God and He will give us rest. I know so many times I hold on so tight thinking that will help me fix the worry. It never works. Thank you for stopping by! Happy Weekend friend!
Hi Mary! I love the phrase “Rhythms of Rest”. It makes me feel more peaceful already!
The summer weather is here, and I do feel like I’m not taking advantage of the weather, and the slower pace. Maybe it’s the Type A in me, I don’t know. I”m trying to rest more in the knowledge that Jesus is with me, and totally in charge. I don’t have to stress so much over the path of my life. He’s got it. Thank goodness!
I hope that your rhythm becomes one that includes restful moments of peace. We all need that so much. You are starting a whole new beginning (just like Linda!), so be patient with yourself. God’s got this!
Blessings to you,
Ceil
I probably need to post “rhythms of rest” all around my house so I start remembering that this is what I am striving for right now. New beginnings can require some work but knowing that God’s got this is what I should be resting in. Thank you for reminding me that I need restful moments of peace. I love the serenity of those words. I am in great company with Linda also transitioning. We are two little peas in a pod trying to figure it all out.
Thank you for being such a blessing Ceil!
Rest has become a priority for me- just like other things on my schedule. It has allowed more time to pray and be in a relationship with my heavenly Father. Thank you for the inspiration ♥
I love how rest is a priority for you! That is what I am striving for too. It does allow for more God time because of where your focus is centered. So glad you joined me here today. Blessings for the rest of your week!
Ah, sounds wonderful to start finding the rhythm of rest! But, so much harder than it sounds, I know. Definitely not something I do well, but so needed in our lives. Hope you’re able to settle into a new routine and find joy in the new pace.
Yes it absolutely does!! I have a lot to learn in finding and embracing the rhythms in my life. I believe we will all find peace when God is leading us in the journey. Blessed to have you here friend!
Mary,
I like your wording…”allow God to lead our daily rhythms”. When we allow Him to lead, He leads us beside still waters and to places that will restore and refresh us. Like you, I tend to jump in there with my own direction and rhythm. He knows better than we do what we need so our job is to abide in Him and wait for Him to lead. Thanks for a much needed reminder today…
Blessings,
Bev
We can’t go wrong when we let God lead. My problem is that I am not very good at that somedays. I believe many of us struggle with the same thing. The reminder for you is an even bigger reminder for me that this life is not mine but God’s and giving Him the control will only make it easier for us. Blessed by your friendship and encouragement. Thank you for being here!
Resting in HIM Mary is one of the most beautiful gifts we are given. But if we are being honest, we ALL wrestle with this. For me, there is a fine line between rest and lazy. I feel like if I let go and relax too much I’ll just turn into a couch potato or something, so I am one of those people who just can’t sit still. I drive people crazy. I too need to learn how to rest. 🙂 Praying you can just relax and breathe and learn to enjoy the slower rhythm of life!
I am praying that we both embrace the rhythm of slowing down and turning to God to center us. I will fall into this rhythm eventually but right now I am still learning how to do that. We all have busy times in our lives and I want to make sure that life is not just about busy. Love having you here Nicki. You share some great wisdom and lovely encouragement.
I must say I find it a lot harder to rest in the summer months than in the winter. Rather than go straight to my chair with coffee in hand and Word in view I am drawn outside to the garden, a rake, a trowel, you see where I’m going… My life is busy but restful – we have been an empty nest for years so I know how to be ‘home alone’. This current season I have found new adventure in The Word and it has been so soul-charging. Blessings my friend.
I am hearing several of you mention finding God in His word and the beautiful way it begins your day and focuses you. That is what I am looking to establish as a rhythm in my life. I know that His word needs to be first. I love how you describe being an empty nester and how you know how to be home alone. It is a glorious thing knowing that you can start your day without commitments hanging over your head. So glad you have joined me here Susan!
Mary, it’s so neat that you’ve written about discovering new rhythms in this new season because I’ve been thinking along those same lines in recent days!
It’s like we could have written a post together!
I feel like these fresh ways of being are unfolding gradually and gently, almost without notice. It’s not til I sit still and purposefully think about them that I realize that life is changing subtly but surely.
And I LOVE it!
I’m grateful we’re traveling through new seasons together. I’m in good company with you by my side …
;-}
Well, writing a post together or collaborating sure would be fun!!! We have so much going on in our lives that parallels and connects with what the other person is going through that it is no wonder that our thoughts are similar. I love walking through this big transition with you because of the grace that you are showing me in the goodbyes as well as the humor you carry with you no matter what. You are such a treasure and I am blessed to call you friend!
So wish I had the answer to how I seek the rhythms of rest!!! I’m certain that you will find your way though. Love how you listen for God’s leading and are brave enough to follow it, even when He simply calls you to be still. Thanks for these words today, friend!
There is so much going on in this head of mine! 🙂 I need to clear it out to listen well and hear God’s voice louder than everything else. I know that there needs to be a part of me that seeks rest because in that process I will find God and what He has next for me. Love having you here! Hugs!
Mary- I’m a retired teacher too! What a shift from that hectic schedule to a season of wide-open blocks of time and the absence of pressure-packed schedules! It’s a time to get acquainted with rest. I have verse from Jeremiah 6 posted in my bedroom to remind me that the ultimate goal is rest for my soul- trusting in Christ and resting on His work alone. Your beautifully written words struck a chord with me, especially these: “Each promise of rest starts with God and His Word. The choice of allowing the rhythm of rest into our lives begins with God’s Word in our hearts and God’s praises on our lips.” Perfect!
What a great connection we have as retired teachers! Such a wonderful profession that served as my passion and ministry for so many years. Now it is on to slowing down and seeking those rhythms that God chooses for me so that my next steps point to Him and not to myself. Jeremiah 6 was my favorite verse when I was choosing verses for this post. It seems to sum up where I am right now-at a crossroads but one that needs to seek doing good for God. I am blessed by your encouragement and joining in the conversation.
This last sentence was my favorite . . . “Each promise of rest starts with God and His Word. The choice of allowing the rhythm of rest into our lives begins with God’s Word in our hearts and God’s praises on our lips.”
It starts with Him and His Word. And I think that holds true for just about everything. Which is why I am so grateful for the routine I have of starting my mornings with Him. Some mornings don’t last as long (like this morning) but they always begin with Him.
Blessings to you dear friend.
xoxo
I love how you have developed this routine of starting your day in the Word. That is what I am striving for and know that I will have to reframe my thinking in order to get back on track. Thank you for being here and for encouraging me with your own example. Have a wonderful week!
Such a good reminder. With five small children I have discovered that summer doesn’t feel quite as restful as I want it to, but God truly is faithful to give me rest when I look to Him for it. Thank you for your words! #raralinkup
Always glad to see you here Kaylie! Summer always reminds me of slowing down and less on the calendar, but for some reason my body and mind are out of sync with rest right now. I am looking to God to lead the way and to show me where I need to find rest. Praying that you and your children are able to embrace some of the summer slow down that restores us for when the school year begins again. Have a blessed week!