As I sit down to write this article, it is technically already late and my halls are still decked with all the Christmas you could possibly stand. My husband and I still have a Christmas party to attend on January 14. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas, but this year has felt like a never-ending carousel of “holiday fun.” I have felt the pressure to be everywhere and every thing others may need during the holidays this year and it has taken a toll. I am tired, my brain is mush, and I am all merried out.
My concentration is hanging on by a thread and my anxiety is ramping up. I am blessed to have a husband who has forced me to rest. Even if I have fought against the suggestion of rest, my body has forced me to take a step back and try to allow my body to recuperate.
There are times in our lives when we may be forced to be still. For most of us, that is a hard reality to have to face. Standing still is hard. God offers numerous Scriptures to remind us that it is good for us to rest and be still. Let’s take a look at a couple of Scriptures to help us learn how to be still.
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10. Such a simple verse, but one that is full of power. Resting in the fact that we know God is so comforting! God knows everything about us and about our lives. Knowing God should give us a peace and a feeling of hope in times when we are fighting to just be still.
Many times fear of the unknown creeps in, and we can become so panicked thinking about what may happen that we can’t see straight. God tells us in 1 Samuel 12:16, “Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes.” When we are running around like chickens, we can’t see the good things coming our way. We are so focused on juggling the things around us while worrying about what may come, that we are unable to see the blessings coming down the pipeline for us. God tells us to be still so that we can see the work He is doing in our lives.
As humans, we were designed by God to rest in order to renew not only our physical bodies, but also our spiritual bodies. Isaish 40:31 so beautifully says, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Waiting for the Lord to work in our lives implies that we do just that, we wait. It doesn’t say, those that run around making sure everything is just so will renew their strength. So we, I, must learn to rest in the Lord.
I desperately need to take my own advice on the matter of rest. I have never been a good sleeper. My mother said that even as a baby, I did not sleep. Now at 42, I find myself constantly exhausted but unable to get any rest. I am the reason for not being able to rest. Instead of allowing God to bring peace to my mind, I let my thoughts run rampant. My thoughts are like a flea circus, thoughts hopping from one subject to another, from fears of the unknown future to replaying past events that I will never be able to change. I have a feeling that most of you are like me. We must learn to rest, to be still, and to let God work in our lives.
Hopefully, as 2023 kicks off, I will learn to rest this year. I will learn to be still and to let God work. That is going to be my goal for 2023…Learn how to rest!
This week’s recipe is a salad. I know, I know, it’s January so that’s why the recipe is a salad. Well while we should always focus on healthier options, this salad is a winner no matter when you decide to make it this year. You combine all of the ingredients for the salad together, including the dressing. When you are ready to eat, just add your favorite lettuce and protein. It is really that simple and a healthy recipe that is sure to please even the pickiest eater!
“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and patiently wait for him to act.” Psalm 37:7
April 19, 2024
