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Rest.....
Have you ever gone on vacation and been so excited for the “rest” you would receive? Laying out at the beach with a good book, soaking in the rays of the warm sunshine, listening to the waves as they crash against the shore. Or cuddling up by a nice warm fire in the middle of the glorious mountains with a cup of coffee and a good book. (As you can see, I don’t get to read enough, so every fantasy vacation involves a book in some way)! But, by the time you get home from said vacation you feel you need a vacation from your vacation?!? Because really all we have done is put off what needs to be done until we get back, which now has been stockpiled by everything we missed in our week off. After having surgery I was told to “rest” - no bending, lifting or twisting - for at least 6 weeks. Ugggg....do you know how hard that word is for me? REST. It is so foreign that I don’t even really know what it means anymore! Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find REST for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (emphasis added) God reminded me of this verse as I lay awake at 1:42am, trying to rest. My rest does not come from sleeping - yes, we all need it. It does not come from laying around and binge watching Netflix - guilty! But, REST comes only in Jesus! A simple truth I have been told my whole life, but a truth I am now learning to live. Our hope, our healing, our REST is only found in the One who can lift our burdens and restore our souls! Wow! My heart flutters as I write these words!
In moments when I am overwhelmed because I can’t get to the dishes, laundry is piling up, someone is crying because they can’t find their shoes, etc., I can find REST in that moment knowing IT DOES NOT MATTER. My rest, my peace, my hope and my salvation is in Jesus Christ alone. So, tomorrow I won’t stress that I have to lay around and not bend, lift or twist; but, I will rest in the simple moments - reading to my kids, sharing what God is doing in my heart. I will learn to struggle well while resting in the One who has it all! ....and maybe I will pick up one of my many books.