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ust over four years ago I failed bedrest. My doctor put me on bedrest when I was pregnant with our last one, being my blood pressure was so high and I was considered high risk. I could lay on the couch, but I really was not resting emotionally with all the activity around me and knowing all the things that had to be done. When I’d go into the doctor’s office and he’d have me “rest” for awhile after taking a high blood pressure reading, and it would go down, he knew I was not getting the proper rest at home. So he sent me to the hospital for bedrest for two weeks before our baby was born. I did rest.
I am learning more about what a gift rest is from our Father that I’ve not accepted so often. I can keep very busy from activities and school with the kids, to things around the house, crafts, sewing, coffee runs, church activities, blog writing, reading, making meals, many loads of wash and hanging it outside when I can . . . and the list goes on. I know this is just the beginning of many of my reader’s lists. But I wonder, when do we stop, pause, and rest with God. Not just on Saturday/Sunday/Sabbath but making the time to rest throughout the day than just a 2 minute prayer and we are on our way.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
We may need a rest from work, an atmosphere, school, project, craft, something that is consuming us or overtaking. etc. Our pastor is taking a short sabbatical. He needs renewal and refreshment to be able to to teach and continue growing and learning. With the time of lent coming up, we can take into mind a certain thing in our life we will give up for God – or put to rest for awhile so we can get rest and more time with God.
I wrote about resting on the Sabbath and some personal goals a few weeks ago. I have recently been encouraged to take a “rest” from some personal things in my life specifically towards the goal of healing and encouragement for me. Now that might sound selfish, but I am learning how important my relationship is with God very intimately and personally that has nothing to do with what my husband, children, family or friends – or not do with me. It’s not an easy task in front of me to let go of some specific routines that are a part of my everyday life, but I believe as I work on it, it will help tremendously. As time goes on, I may be be able to share with you, what this specific rest is. I am wondering if my children will notice. 🙂
And you will feel secure, because there is hope;
you will look around and take your rest in security.
Job 11:18
I want my security to be resting in Him not the security of others or things are in my life. No one or no thing will meet all my expectations. How do you rest?
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I love the verse in Job you quoted. I am adding it to my list of verses on rest. I am still on the journey of learning what rest is for me. Thank you for sharing your journey of rest.
“…security in resting in Him” – Yes!
Enjoy the rest you are taking for this season.
hello friend… i was put on couch-rest with this pregnancy, and i did miserably… but when i was lying there, it was amazing how still my soul became, how filled with love and peace… because it was then i noticed the gifts around me. why is it so hard to rest, i wonder? perhaps because if we did, we’d know true joy? so much love to you. xo
Somehow it seems like the rest I most frequently need is brain-rest. Which generally means giving my brain enough useless stimulation as to get it to stop overanalysing everything else. In other words, I feel like TV is really good for me, contrary to popular wisdom. You’re definitely right, rest is very important, but how it plays out and what it looks like… I do really believe that it’s different for different people. My housemate here goes running to rest – go figure 😉
You are so right. We can only find rest in Him and not the things of this world. As Kati said above I think rest is different for each of us. For me I find rest in my prayer time and usually 4 days a week that ‘resting’ prayer time comes during my run. Focusing on prayer is where I find my rest whether it be in praying in a quiet corner at home, in the car driving or running.
Mmmm…this is delicious. Finding rest…letting go of the worldly needs & wants…just in time for Lent, Loni. These are great words. In typical Cindy fashion, I’m going to carry them around with me. Because to be honest, the moments of clarity and rest have been few. Under His wings right? Perhaps I’m the lead duck right now. Don’t know. “I wonder if my children will notice” makes me smile.
I so appreciate where you’re coming from. There are always so many things I want to get done that it’s hard to rest. I’m trying to learn to rest even IN those things, but also to let go of some of them altogether. It’s a season of heightened trust that the Father knows what He’s doing with my time….
Congrats on your son getting married this summer. As we both make preparations for our kids’ wedding, may we find rest in the midst of it all!
Rest—so necessary and enjoyable, yet so hard to practice. I think it does come back to believing I am key and not God. Thanks for the reminder that He is security and rest.
Ok, I’ve read 2 blog posts in a row about rest. I think I hear an echo. So, dear friend, goodnight and thank you.
So true. I too need to take time to rest and just be still to hear that small voice of God. Blessings to you.