If your goal is to soar as who God created you to be, doing what He created you to be, you will live with a certain amount of tension.
That tension is often found in the time between catching the vision the Lord has for you and the reality of your current situation. In other words it is found in the time and space of waiting for your dreams to unfold around you.
Last week, I wrote about finding rest in the midst of a chaotic life. Today I want to talk about how you can wait for the Lord with great anticipation, like a pregnant woman waits to finally meet her baby AND remain in a restful state like the psalmist describes:
Cease striving and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
We often quote this verse as “Be still and know.” It can also be translated, “relax” or “let go”.
The idea of living from a place of rest means you don’t have to strive to achieve it or anything else. It means you are relaxed throughout the day. It also means that you can and do let go of anxious thoughts. It means you are “still” before the Lord, even as you go about your day.
God modeled this life from a place of rest right from the beginning.
By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. Genesis 2: 2-3
God did not need rest yet He took the time to rest. He also blessed and sanctified His day of rest because it is that important. To sanctify is to set something apart or to call it holy.
I suggest God knew we would need His example of rest so that we too would take the time to rest ourselves. It seems a difficult thing to do for many.
Awhile ago, a coaching client told me that her husband had encouraged her to take an hour by herself for herself. She said to me, “It made me a little anxious. I don’t know how to do that.”
It made me wonder if we —as a society—have forgotten what it is like to be by ourselves for ourselves. We build our identity around our full calendars and busy schedules. Perhaps that is why it is difficult to find rest when we are in a season of waiting. We are so used to being busy… and we like it. Waiting on God causes us to feel less useful and productive.
Rest seems counterintuitive to fulfilling the purpose God has for us. Yet, God not only modeled rest, it is a spiritual principle that is a pillar of a sanctified life set apart for God’s good work.
Today, I would like to offer a few practical suggestions for finding rest in the midst of a slow or a hectic schedule. The technique works for both. All you have to remember is the word “REST.”
R= REMEMBER
Take time to think about and worship the Lord for all that He has done in your life.
“Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other; Isaiah 46:9
E= ESTABLISH RESTFUL HABITS
This might be new sleep habits. It might mean adding meditation into your life.It might mean establishing a “winding down” time after a day of work.Perhaps it means taking a walk, cuddling with your fur baby, reading a good book, etc.
S= SILENCE
Make time to be quiet…literally. No music. No television or computer. No conversation. Just silence. This time gives you space to reflect on all that the Lord has done and is doing in your life. It also gives you time and space to worship, pray, and reflect on who God is and who He created you to be.
In repentance and rest you will be saved,
In quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15
T=TRY NEW METHODS OF SELF CARE
The list is endless of the ways you can take care of yourself in a restful manner. Practice Gratitude. Watch or listen to a podcast, movie or music that makes you smile, laugh, giggle and/or dance. Get out in nature on a beautiful day—five minutes can make a world of difference to your nervous system. Take your dog or yourself for a walk. Establish a set bed time and stick to it. Integrate deep breathing into your life.
Whether you are busy pursuing your God-given purpose or whether you feel like God has hit the pause button, finding rest in the pace you are at is crucial for soaring with God. Soaring and resting go hand in hand. An eagle does not flap his wings when he is soaring. He rests.
Resting in the Lord means that you—like the eagle— can relax, let go, and be still, knowing that He is God and is sovereign over whatever you are facing.
That’s good news.