Jan
18
2018
Learning How To Rest
Posted in Daily Living 4 Comments
Last week as I taught Bible study, I thought I was getting a cold.
It is just this time of year, I told myself.
I will just go to bed early, I decided.
I will just sit on my favorite chair under a blanket with a cup of tea, I determined.
After my husband got home and we had dinner, I knew that going to bed was necessary.
I went to bed the same time my children did when they were small.
Something woke me up at 1:00 in the morning.
It was my son’s birthday.
I usually send a text right after midnight on my children’s birthdays.
I usually post a birthday message on my own Facebook wall after midnight as well.
I had been asleep for hours and had never done that.
It was important to me; I went downstairs and opened my laptop.
I even walked that next morning and came back and exercised inside as well.
Later that day, I knew I had done too much.
Another early bedtime.
Even after ten hours of sleep, I still felt terrible.
My writing was done since I always write a day ahead.
My food shopping was done since I happened to shop before I got sick.
The only thing coming up was that we were going to have a full house that weekend.
My son and his fiancé were coming for the weekend, since they had tickets to the Eagles game.
My other son had a wedding to attend, though his wife had to work at the hospital.
We were watching his dog while he went to the wedding
My oldest daughter planned to come over to see her brothers.
Any other weekend, this would have thrilled me.
However, this weekend, though delighted, all I wanted to do was be in bed.
My husband said repeatedly that I had the flu.
But I don’t have a fever! I kept insisting.
I just had a terrible cold and cough and was so very tired.
I stayed up to see my son and his fiancé when they arrived late that night.
We talked in the kitchen for a while.
I went to bed much later than the previous days but I told myself I could sleep in.
I did sleep in a bit but I wanted to make a nice breakfast for everyone.
I was washing my hands relentlessly, being careful as I prepared the food for everyone.
I was drinking lots of water.
I knew that when they left for the game, my chair and a blanket would be my friend.
My other son came and had birthday presents to open; I wanted to catch up with him as well.
By the time everyone left for all the things they had planned, I sat, and sat, and sat.
We had dinner, I said goodnight to my oldest daughter and went to bed.
I wrote quick notes for the others to find when they returned.
By Sunday morning, I knew a trip to Urgent Care was necessary.
Three minutes after the office opened, I was standing at the front desk.
The women behind the counter had masks on their faces.
They were seeing so many people with the same symptoms, they were protecting themselves.
It did not offend me in the least.
They confirmed what I knew: viral upper respiratory infection (aka: bad cold).
I was to continue doing what I had been doing and REST.
There is was.
The word that we all know but the word with which we struggle.
REST.
Why are we so against something that is for our benefit?
If God rested after six days of creation, do we think for one-second that we are above Him?
Will the earth stop turning on its axis if we put our feet up?
Will the sun fail to come up in the morning if we are not up to greet it?
Even in the Psalms, the musical notation, SELAH, is seen over and over.
SELAH is an instruction to rest.
What if we did not have periods at the end of our sentences?
We would have one continuous, meaningless, run-on, stream of consciousness.
What if we did not have rests in music?
The beauty of the piece would not be apparent because there would be no silence.
There would be no space to appreciate the sound that came before and after the rest.
There would be no pause, no anticipation; there would only be noise.
I knew that I had to clear my calendar.
I had to cancel a planned time with a young mom and her two sons.
I had to cancel tea with another sweet woman the following day.
I had to lay my writing aside for a few days and REST.
And the earth still turned on its axis.
And the sun still came up in the morning.
And I was still.
And I rested.
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:30,31)
In my rest, it was just me and Jesus.
In my rest, I was prompted to pray about many things.
In my rest, I learned some things about myself that were things I had to realize.
In my rest, I was given the greatest gift of all: humility.
My daughter and her husband were away for the weekend and never knew that I was sick.
My youngest daughter is on the West Coast for the month as part of a college class.
She was sick on the West Coast while I was sick on the East Coast.
And God is in control.
And God is not limited by geography.
And God will teach us stillness one way or another.
And God handles us with such grace.
And God cares for us with such tender mercy.
Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Amen.
Rest, yes!!! So needed in our lives in the busyness of life itself and yet we often avoid it until we most need it. Rest…it doesn’t come easy but when it does it is delightful. I truly love the
quiet and stillness of rest…to block the world out, not a sound to be heard or spoken but the
silence and peacefulness of rest. It truly is a gift when we allow ourselves to do it. To be
completely still and quiet before Him with no agenda…what a gift to the body and soul that nothing else can provide but rest. If only I could rest all day…
Carolyn Hunt
Amen, Carolyn!
Why is it so hard for us to accept such a wondrous gift from God?
To be still, to listen, and to ponder is simply glorious!
Gina
Beautiful, as always. I struggle w the same and was just discussing it yesterday- how difficult it is to be still and rest in the Lord- to not always fill the space w activities. Albeit it good, caring, giving activities, we need to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit when it’s time to rest, be still and listen.
Glad you are feeling better!
Thank you, Diane. The stillness was a blessing. Now I pray that stillness will be part of my days as I remember what gift it really is.
Gina